Dole Superkids

After harvest, potatoes are transported to packing facilities where they are brushed or washed to remove dirt and cooled to 50 degrees farenheit. Next, potatoes are mechanically sized then sorted into grades by workers.

Potatoes that are packed for the fresh market are further cooled 42-45 degrees farenheit. Depending on the grade and size, potatoes are then packed into consumer-sized bags or larger cartons. The most common size for consumers are 5, 10, 15, or 20 pound bags. The most popular carton sizes are 100-count, 90-count, 80-count and 70-count, each weighing 50 pounds.

Potatoes can be stored for about 10 months in special storage facilities where the temperature, humidity and air circulation are controlled. To help prevent them from bruising, potatoes ride a conveyor belt into the atmospherically controlled storage facility.