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Consumers rely on food processing and storage facilities to ensure the ideal environmental conditions for produce from the moment it’s picked at the field to the time it reaches a grocery store. When it comes to cold storage, humidity and temperature levels are among the most important considerations to prolong the life of fruits and vegetables. When environmental conditions are not ideal, produce deteriorates and becomes potentially harmful to consumers.

Each type of document has its own unique needs in regards to storage and preservation. Photographic materials are particularly challenging because of the variety of techniques used to preserve images on film and the different ways that they change with time and deteriorate. While photographic prints are more resilient, the film requires special storage and handling. Cold storage for the film is a popular preventive conservation measure that extends the life of historic film and averts the need for costly restorations.

Desiccants are hygroscopic substances used as drying agents. They attract water-vapor molecules from the air using an absorptive or absorptive process. They’re often open dehumidification systems used for the cold storage of food products to ensure appropriate relative humidity levels. Desiccant wheel and liquid desiccant dehumidification systems are among the most common used for cold food storage because they’re more efficient, produce less heat and prevent the formation of frost. The best system for cold storage depends on the type of food stored, the location of the storage unit and its size.

Food packaging for the purposes of preservation and transport is a practice that dates back to ancient civilizations. In today’s industrial food processing world, food packaging is presentational and technical. The presentational aspects relate to brand recognition and visually appealing to customers. The technical aspects are more important, as they provide condensation prevention, extend the shelf life of goods and help protect the health of consumers. By properly protecting food packaging that’s in cold storage and selecting the appropriate types of packaging, processing and manufacturing facilities will experience fewer food-related losses and greater levels of consumer satisfaction.

There is only one Rosetta Stone, but photographs have helped preserve the myriad of languages carved into it. Similarly, libraries across the world are looking to document scanning to preserve historical and rare texts in their collections so that future generations can study and enjoy them. Along with texts, libraries are digitizing audio and video recordings, and transcribing oral histories. With the help of grants and the right equipment, librarians and archivists have the means to modernize their collections and make it accessible to the public.