Oats

Oat preservation is achieved using the VacQPack system’s active controls on condensation and evaporation phenomena, tackling insect infestation and moisture dangers. In a conventional storage infrastructure, experience has shown that serious infestation might occur within three months, even in situations where risk is minimized by good handling and storage practices.

For organically compliant fumigation, an alternative to phosphine, the bulk needs to have a very low level of oxygen, with an inert gas substitute, such as Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) or Nitrogen (N₂). The percentage of gas flush is always determined by the client’s quality operations officer’s requisites.

Several studies in the past twenty years have explored the benefits of CO₂ in comparison with other types of preservation, including chemical. It has been found that Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) using CO₂ can partly overcome the use of pesticides, guarding against infestations, and inhibiting bacteria, effectively extending shelf life.

The VacQPack system is capable of packaging oats in larger bulk as well as in smaller packages, always delivering the same preservation parameters of vacuum and controlled atmosphere (CA). It’s an integrated solution that uses the same software and mechanical fluid control, meaning that the product, although in dissimilar types of packaging, is always brought to the same highly regulated preservation conditions.

Oats are direct-harvested as soon as the grain ripens to avoid shattering. Oats harvested at more than 12% moisture should be dried (aeration or grain dryer) before storage.

Keeping oats dry and free from fungal growth is the most imperative requisite for sound storage. The maximum moisture content at which oats can be securely warehoused is 12.5% unless the temperature is reduced under 59°F.