Production Practices and Quality Assessment of Food Crops. Vol. 1

Saffron Quality 245
space for sorting the stigmas and another one for processing where light is limited.
A possible arrangement in this room is shown in Figure 17: (1) baskets for flowers,
(2) a winnowing apparatus, (3) supporting bases for the frames, (4) container for
collecting dried stigmas, (5) a ventilation system, (6) a heating source, (7) a light
protective system (e.g. curtains).
The annual preparation of the processing room is suggested to include disinfection
of the floor and walls with permitted cleaning agents and sanitizers some
days before harvesting. Access to flying insects, crawling insects, rodents and
birds should be strictly restricted by all means except for using chemicals. All
openings should be closed and cracks repaired. Traps or ultrasonic devices, air
curtains and other alternative means for the control of pests are recommended.
The frames used for drying are better to have standardised dimensions and in
consequence standard quantities of fresh stigmas per frame should be loaded. In
case the frames are piled (Figure 18) the distance between them should be 0.5 m
to allow.
Air circulation and speed drying up. The sieves used may be plastic (permitted
for food use), or silk cloth. It is proposed not to use metallic sieves to avoid rust
problems. The sieves are to be used only for saffron drying and then be cleaned
and stored till the next harvest.
Heating. Many heating systems are acceptable. Limitations have to do with maintaining
constant temperature in relation to relative humidity of the environment. It
is, thus, necessary to regulate the temperature and the relative humidity in the
room even with the use of a ventilator in order to avoid deterioration of the quality
parameters that characterise the final product. Monitoring of the temperature and
relative humidity using a simple accessory that combines a thermometer and a
relative humidity meter help the control. Recording of the values of these para-
Figure 17. Winnowing and drying areas layout.