Engineering Controlled Atmosphere Storage for Long-Term Produce Preservation
Significantly extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables, reduce spoilage, and boost your bottom line with a custom-designed controlled atmosphere room. Engineering controlled atmosphere storage for long-term produce preservation offers many advantages over simple cold storage. Learn why food producers and distributors nationwide are making the switch to this technology with key insight from CW Refrigeration, Pennsylvania’s preferred industrial refrigeration design and installation services provider.
Why upgrade to controlled-atmosphere storage?
- Adjusting atmospheric conditions allows you to slow the ripening process and preserve product quality
- Limiting oxygen slows the natural ripening process
- Carefully controlling carbon dioxide inhibits microorganism activity
- CW Refrigeration’s custom designs and turnkey services make providing produce year-round a reality
What is Controlled Atmosphere Storage?
Produce continues to respirate, ripen, and deteriorate after harvest, consuming oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide. Controlled atmosphere storage rooms in Pennsylvania allow you to adjust the internal atmosphere. Featuring an airtight design, along with gas-monitoring and control systems that precisely regulate temperature, humidity, oxygen, and carbon dioxide levels, controlled atmosphere storage provides the ideal conditions to slow the natural ripening process, prevent dehydration, and keep produce fresher for longer.
How Managing Oxygen in Controlled Atmosphere Rooms Impacts Produce Lifespan
Reducing oxygen from normal atmospheric levels of around 21% to between 1-3%, depending on variety and cultivar, slows produce respiration, inducing a semi-dormant state. In these conditions, ripening, moisture loss, and softening slow, safeguarding texture and flavor, and reducing spoilage.
How Managing Carbon Dioxide with Controlled Atmosphere Storage Impacts Produce Lifespan
Increasing carbon dioxide above normal atmospheric levels in Pennsylvania, alongside oxygen reduction, reduces activity in microorganisms such as bacteria and mold that cause spoilage without the need for chemical treatments. However, precision control is essential. Too much carbon dioxide can damage fruits and vegetables, resulting in browning and ‘off’ flavors.
Create the Ideal Storage Environment with Help from CW Refrigeration
CW Refrigeration specializes in designing and constructing controlled atmosphere storage systems for food manufacturing facilities. Our industrial refrigeration engineers in Pennsylvania provide solutions tailored to your product and process. We have experience serving leading food producers and distributors across the US. We’ll help you maximize the benefits of controlled atmosphere storage, providing solutions that:
- Double or triple shelf life
- Reduce food waste and inventory loss
- Control pests and diseases without chemicals
- Maintain optimal food quality and safety
- Improve operational efficiency
- Reduce energy use and operating costs with eco-friendly cold storage
- Ensure optimal operating conditions with smart, automated systems
Supply Your Customers with Fresh, Quality Produce Year-Round
Keep produce on the shelf. Discover more about engineering controlled atmosphere storage for long-term produce preservation in Batavia, Geneva, Hudson, Cortland, Canandaigua, Fulton, Lockport, Oneonta, Olean, and Watertown from CW Refrigeration. Get in touch with our team at 215-515-9611 to discuss your unique food production and storage needs today.
Pennsylvania
The Empire State supplies the nation with a variety of produce, from apples, pears, and grapes to vegetables, hops, and maple syrup. CW Refrigeration proudly serves the region, providing custom controlled atmosphere room design, installation, and service in Pennsylvania.