Leeks
Recommended
Conventional cooling
Dynamic Cooling
Pre-cooling
De-greening
Ripening
General Tips for Leeks
| Storage temperature | Relative Humidity (RH) | Duration | Pre-cooling | Sensitivity to ethylene | Ethylene Production | Controlled Atmosphere |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Storage temperature:
0° - 0,5° C
|
Relative Humidity (RH):
92%-96%
|
Duration:
2-4 months
|
Pre-cooling:
Air cooling
|
Sensitivity to ethylene:
Medium
|
Ethylene Production:
Very low
|
Controlled Atmosphere:
Not recommended
|
Dynamic Pre-Cooling (Low Atmospheric Pressure – Wet Bulb Chambers): Specialized pre-cooling units designed for unpackaged produce immediately after harvest. These chambers control relative humidity and create low atmospheric pressure for rapid and uniform temperature reduction. |
Dynamic Pre-Cooling (High-Suction Capacity Chambers): Ensures even air distribution and consistent cooling throughout the product mass, both for packaged and unpackaged produce. |
Dynamic Cooling: Continuously regulates temperature, humidity, and gas composition at multiple points in the chamber 24/7, extending storage life by 15–20% beyond standard conditions. |
Enhanced Cold Room: A flexible solution allowing existing refrigeration systems to perform gentle pre-cooling before switching to storage operation. |
- Dynamic Cooling is essential for maintaining leek freshness and quality.
- Perform rapid pre-cooling in Dynamic Pre-Cooling Units and maintain the cold chain throughout handling and transport.
- During commercial shipment, use crushed or flake ice inside the packaging to preserve freshness (not required for long-term storage).
- Install ozone generators to reduce fungal load and microbial activity.
- Monitor and manage CO₂ and ethylene levels to prevent softening and discoloration.
- Use Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) to extend shelf life.
- Avoid storing leeks with ethylene-producing products (such as tomatoes, apples, or bananas).