PROSSER, Wash. — Washington State University will dedicate a new potato storage facility near here Wednesday, Sept. 3.
Ceremonies will begin at 1:00 p.m. at WSU’s Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center.
The $282,000 state-of-the-art potato storage encompasses 2,400 square feet and has the latest technology for temperature and humidity control, says Art Linton, center superintendent. It was designed and built by Suberizer, Inc., Bellevue.
The storage replaces an out-dated one built in 1968 with inadequate humidity and temperature controls.
Linton said the facility will be used to store potatoes grown as part of production research by WSU and USDA-Agriculture Research Service scientists. Research is designed to improve efficiency of potato production, improve product quality and promote environmental sustainability.
Technology in the old facility is so outdated that it is difficult to correlate results from potatoes stored in it with data from Washington’s commercial potato storages.
The Washington State Potato Commission donated $119,000 to help build the facility. Six major potato processors also contributed a portion of building construction costs. They are:
- Basic American Foods.
- J. R. Simplot Co.
- Lamb Weston, Inc.
- McCain Foods, Inc.
- Nestle U.S.A.
- Twin City Foods.
Dedication speakers include James Zuiches, dean of WSU’s College of Agriculture and Home Economics, and Kevin Bouchey, chair, Washington State Potato Commission.
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