North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Charles Paradise <machelp@attglobal.net>]

Tom,
One of the things I tell people is that doing things "the way that 
professionals do them" is often the opposite of the simple way.

You sure have an interesting idea.  However, the 80-20 principle is in effect 
all day long.  Meaning, the economics of fruit growing are so marginal that 
we have to find the easy way many times to see ourselves gaining a profit.  
In any case, the energy-intensive methods of professional apple storage may 
soon go the way the tomato growing industry in Massachusetts went after oil 
prices rose in the early 1970's.

You didn't say where you live...but here in Massachusetts the hidden 
underground storage bunkers of earlier civilizations exist here and there and 
can be frequently accessed and rented for just a few dollars a month.  Their 
conditions are 95% humidity and if properly ventilated, during winter 35-40 
degrees, plenty to get your fruit from harvest into the January markets when 
prices are high.

Sure you can spend much more to extend storage into april...but that's where 
the 80% cost comes into play and that's where it becomes unprofitable.  Aim 
for the January market for 20% of the effort and be happy.

Charlie Paradise z5 Massachusetts

Thomas Olenio wrote:

> Hello All,
>
> I understand that commerical apple storage uses a carbon dioxide
> environment.....