Citrus Packers Hear Benefits of Ultraviolet Light

FORT PIERCE | University of Florida researcher Kevin Folta has shown the light on improving food safety for fresh Florida citrus.

Folta’s research shows ultraviolet light can effectively kill harmful microorganisms on the peel during processing in the packinghouse.

“It would be tremendously beneficial to treat produce with germicidal light,” Folta told more than 100 citrus growers and packinghouse executives at the 53rd annual Citrus Packinghouse Day at the Indian River Research and Education Center in Fort Pierce. “It’s known to kill harmful organisms by damaging their DNA.”

Read the full story: The Ledger