China cold storage solution provider
Garlic scapes (garlic sprouts) are widely used in daily cooking and are especially popular in stir-fried dishes. However, they are highly perishable. Once stored at room temperature, they quickly become tough, fibrous, and lose both flavor and nutritional value.
For large farms, food distributors, exporters, and processing factories, the most effective solution is to use a controlled-atmosphere (CA) cold storage room. With the correct temperature, humidity, and gas composition, garlic scapes can be kept fresh for 6–7 months, maintaining their bright green color and crisp texture.
1. How Much Does a Garlic Scape CA Cold Storage Room Cost?
A typical garlic-scape preservation project uses a CA cold room sized around 100–200 m³, depending on the farm or distributor’s handling volume.
Estimated Investment Cost
- 100 m³ CA cold room: USD 12,000–17,000
- 200 m³ CA cold room: USD 22,000–28,000
2. How Much Garlic Scape Can Be Stored?
A CA cold room offers high utilization rate because garlic scapes can be stacked or kept in ventilated crates.
Storage Capacity Reference
- 100 m³ CA room: 20–28 tons
- 200 m³ CA room: 30–50 tons
Customers usually design capacity based on weekly or seasonal harvesting cycles.
3. Key Steps for Long-Term Garlic Scape Storage (CA Cold Room Method)
(1) Pre-Cooling
Use forced-air pre-cooling.
Cool to 1°C before entering the CA room.
Pre-cooling should not exceed 48 hours.
(2) Temperature & Humidity Control
- Temperature: -1°C to 0°C
- Relative Humidity: 90–95%
- Oxygen (O₂): 2–5%
- Carbon Dioxide (CO₂): 0–5%
With the correct parameters, garlic scapes can stay fresh for:
➡ Up to 6–7 months
4. Investment Return Example
Country/City: Chiang Mai, Thailand
Cold Room Size: 150 m³ CA storage
Equipment: CA control system, forced-air precooling, -1–0°C refrigeration
Total Investment: USD 23,500
Storage Capacity: ~35 tons of garlic scapes
Energy Consumption: 85–110 kWh/day
Payback Period: 12–18 months, supported by seasonal price differences and reduced spoilage