Order: Saxifragales
Family: Grossulariaceae
Genus: Ribes
Species: R. rubrum

It grows naturally in Western Europe (Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Northern Italy, Northern Spain and Portugal. It is a deciduous shrub that normally grows up to 1.5 meters, rarely 2 meters in height. Its flowers are yellow-green, Inflorescences of 4-8 cm, when ripe, turn into transparent red edible grapes with a diameter of 8-12 mm. Each grape bunch has 3-10 fruits. From the middle to the end of summer, 3-4 kilograms of fruit can be obtained from each bush. Generally, semi-shade or full. Blackcurrant bushes, which like bright environments, can grow in many soils.It can be easily grown as a garden plant since it has little need.The total annual active temperature of the region where the vineyard will be established must be at  least 16^oC. In order to make profitable viticulture, the annual average temperature is 9-21^oC and hot months average should be 17-20^oC degrees.

Valuable red currant species suitable for long-term storage

Jonkheer Van Tets, Red Lake, Stanze, Perfection, Wilder, Honeyqueen, and Rovada

Red currant harvest

Currants ripen over a two-week period in mid-June to mid-July, depending on local climate, and change color to a bright red when fully ripe. Fruits develop in clusters that are easily picked from the two and three year old branches. Red currants have tender skins that will tear when picked. To avoid this and increase storage life, harvest the whole cluster at once. Fruit do not need to be harvested as soon as they turn red, as they hold well on the plant. In fact, for fresh eating, leaving the fruit on the bush for an additional 2 or 3 weeks after coloring will enhance flavor and sweetness. Depending on cultivar, mature plants should yield about 1,3 to 4kgs per bush.

Suitable conditions for the storage of red currant

As with all fruits, the product should be brought to the coldstore as soon as possible after harvest, and it should be put into the cold chain by lowering the core temperature with pre-cooling. Reducing the core temperature as soon as possible is the golden rule for redcurrants for long-term storage. It depends on this to maximize the storage time in the current product.

CA storage of red currant

Controlled atmosphere protocols can extend storage time to 3 months to 6 months longer due to controlled atmosphere technique; applied temperature, hardware(CA chamber / Palliflex) and gas levels applied to the product in the cold store

Our Controlled Atmosphere System Equipments for Red Currant Storage    

 - PalletCAP
 
 - Controlled Atmosphere automation

 - Oxygen Scrubber

 - Carbon Dioxide Scrubber


The OXYCAT team offers turnkey professional CA equipment and automation with all kinds of consulting, design, engineering and service services for your CA system, suitable for your needs and business structure. 

Please contact if you have any questions and requests regarding our CA systems.