Cold Storage Unit

Inaugurated in 1997

1997 – 5 refrigeration chambers
2001 - Expansion to 12 chambers

Partners

Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional (AECI)
Fundación Promoción Social de la Cultura (FPSC)

Objectives

Help farmers increase their revenues by charging only 60% of the market price.

Offer quality products, preserved according to international standards.

Establish a system of commercialization without intermediaries, thereby protecting farmers from commission charges.

Beneficiaries

Farmers from North Lebanon

Women and young girls (provided with jobs - mainly during the seasons when fruit is being stored)

Students and professors (for research purposes)

The refrigeration chambers were constructed and equipped with the latest technology, with walls that allow ventilation for the stored fruit. All the chambers are linked to a computer system that measures and monitors humidity and temperature levels 24 hours/day according to given specifications. The expansion of the Cold Storage Unit increased storage capacity to 120,000 fruit crates or 2,400 tons.

The quality of stored apples is greatly influenced by various factors: humidity, temperature, lighting and ventilation. Inadequate conditions cause the deterioration of the product’s quality. The storing techniques applied in the refrigeration service delay the ripening process and avoid the risk of possible disease. Moreover, experiments are continuously carried out on new varieties of fruits to test the longevity of these products. The modern monitoring system allows the continuous visual control of all cold storage chambers, so that any deviation from the set criteria can be detected and immediately remedied.

The Cold Storage Unit is open seven days a week, from 6 am to 6 pm. The following services are provided:

Storage

Counseling on the diseases that can occur during preservation

Establishment of direct contact between farmers and merchants or exporters