TOOLS |
DESCRIPTION |
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1 cm corers. Available at kitchen supply stores. OR A vegetable peeler marked off at 1cm. Mark the peeler head 1cm down from the tip to take sample cores of the regulation size. |
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Ziploc vegetable bags, or comparable breathable storage bags. Regular Ziploc bags with holes punched in them are another alternative. |
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BRR identification tag. DOWNLOAD HERE. |
| TECHNIQUE | DESCRIPTION |
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Identify where the stem of the potato is. |
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With a circular motion, core a uniform 1cm diameter sphere from the stem end of the potato. |
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IMPORTANT: To be used for testing all cores need to be the same size (1cm x 1cm) with each core weighing between 0.5g to 1g maximum! |
| Please note there is a charge for re-sizing samples that are not of regulation size. | |
| SHIPPING | DESCRIPTION |
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Make sure the sample cores are clean and dry to avoid deterioration of sample. Please make sure the BRR identification tag is waterproofed in some way before putting it in with the sample cores, wrapping the tag in saran wrap, laminating it or placing it in a separate bag are all effective methods. |
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Insulate the shipping package if there is a chance of freezing. |
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If you are shipping tubers we suggest using Rubbermaid Roughneck Totes (14 gal / 53 L size) insulated with several layers of burlap sacking. As styrofoam is difficult to recycle, we ask that clients avoid using it to ship.
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Ship with a dependable carrier. Click logos for carrier links. |
| WHEN THINGS GO WRONG - The bad, the worse and the ugly | |
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Frozen potatoes. The ultimate potato bomb; a stinky, moldy, oozing mess. Very common and very easy to avoid with proper insulation of shipping boxes. Result: Untestable material. Sample will have to be re-collected and shipped again. |
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Rotten, slimy potatoes. Shipped wet and in poor condition. Result: Untestable material. Sample will have to be re-collected and shipped again. |
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Flimsy, inadequate shipping containers. Please ship in containers that will arrive in one piece. Result: Lost, mixed, or damaged samples. Samples may have to be re-collected and shipped again. |
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Wet illegible tags. Please make sure the identification tag is waterproofed in some way before putting it in with the sample, wrapping the tag in saran wrap, laminating it or placing it in a separate bag are all effective methods. Result: Tags will have to be filled out again, signed and shipped before testing of samples can occur. |
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