Potato Packinghouses--Guidelines for Plant Layout

Excerpts from the report: Potatoes that reach the consumer in their whole raw form are prepared for market through a series of processes, usually including cleaning, sorting, sizing, and packaging. This preparation is accomplished in potato packinghouses located in the production areas and in the heavily populated consuming centers of the country. This study was undertaken to develop guidelines for planning potato packinghouse layouts that will allow more efficient, and flexible operations. Factors to be considered in layout planning are noted, and three example layouts have been prepared. Methods, equipment, and facilities used in large and small commercial potato packinghouses in the Red River Valley area were studied during the development of these layouts. Processes and equipment known to be used in packing plants in other areas of the United States are also included. Many of the operations and facilities may be considered typical of the industry at this time. However, the example layouts emphasize more mechanization of material handling in the plant than is commonly practiced by the industry.