with solar energy, since it is not necessary to use an auxiliary heating source to
supplement the solar energy. However, from a commercial viewpoint, it is necessary
to bear in mind that the direct solar radiation is only available for some hours of
the day and for some days of the week, and an auxiliary heating source may assure
a more continuous production process.
One of the criterions used to determine the quality of the dried garlic is its appearance, the clear colors being much more appreciated. In the tests, a very good dried
garlic with an even, clear cream color is obtained. The average production efficiency
was 1 kg of dried product for 5 kg of fresh product and the load density was around
6 or 7 kg of fresh product by tray square meter.