Scientists Seek To Save Flavor Of Tomatoes And Strawberries

USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded University of Florida scientists Kevin Folta and Thomas Colquhoun $500,000 to investigate how to get tomatoes and strawberries to retain their flavors and last longer.

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The NIFA-funded project will examine how light can affect the quality of fruits and vegetables after harvest, said Folta, a UF/IFAS horticultural sciences professor. About 50% of harvested produce goes to waste, so increasing shelflife, nutrient, and flavor retention may help increase consumption of healthy food.

“Harvested fruits and vegetables are metabolically active, living tissues,” Folta said. “We’ve found that we can manipulate their quality by stimulating their light-sensing networks. This non-chemical treatment has been shown to have clear effects on the production of flavor compounds and genes associated with central metabolic pathways.”

Folta and Colquhoun, an environmental horticulture assistant professor, will examine the effects of specific light wavelengths, or colors, on reprogramming fruit metabolism and breakdown. These treatments are delivered by specialized LED-light devices immediately after harvest or at retail. Plants possess light-sensing pathways that change which genes are turned on and off and can affect quality in harvested plant products.

“These simple, low-cost applications could have big dividends for retailers and consumers, as produce would retain nutrient content and quality longer,” Folta said. “Their use in the developing could help ensure that more nutrient-dense foods get to people that need them, and it is exciting that a cheap, durable and solar-powered solution could bring such benefits.”

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Avatar for Theresa Theresa says:

The tomatoes and berries are perfect the way they are, can’t they just leave it alone? Buy real food from local organic farmers. This is a waste of taxpayer dollars! I don’t want my tax dollars to be funneled in this direction.

Avatar for John C. John C. says:

Nah, if they can be made to last a little longer using no chemicals or anything other than modifying light, that’s a bonus to everyone, as opposed to wasting tax dollars on labeling GMOS

Avatar for Eric Bjerregaard Eric Bjerregaard says:

They are not perfect and there is room for improvement. Your view is shortsighted. there are very few local farmers in downtown areas. While philosophically I believe that private enterprise should fund such research. If that is the only way this is funded. They will do the research, develop superior products, and then get patents. At which point you will cry about that as well. Let Folta do his job. Carolina gold, Sun gold, and many others have fine flavor. They just don’t ship well.

Avatar for Margaret Margaret says:

That’s not what I got from this at all. They are leaving the tomatoes and berries alone , they’re just treating the harvested food with light to make it last longer. No “chemicals”, no” evil gmo tech”. Maybe my comprehension is off, but that’s like being opposed to refrigeration because you like your food the way nature intended.

1) Your precious organic comes from other countries, so it’s not “local.” 2) Dr. Folta’s work will allow them to stay fresh longer with LIGHT. 3) YOU don’t get to dictate where your tax dollars go (most likely into the pocket of the CEO of Whole Foods).

Avatar for ivanthechemist ivanthechemist says:

Actually they are not going to bother more than with different light. They just want them to stay “perfect the way they are” longer. Tomatoes and strawberries are not grown in everywhere, so better taste and nutrient retention will actually save money in the long run 🙂
This is not a GM, so even your “local organic farmers” will be able to use different light to gain the benefits. So please explain where is the waste of taxpayer dollars in this green, sustainable and food securing research.

Avatar for James Trudel James Trudel says:

If they were perfect we couldn’t improve them. However in this case we’re not even trying to improve them, they’re just shining different lights at them.

Ignorance abounds.

Avatar for Todd Todd says:

So what you’re saying is you’re okay with hard, flavorless produce with comparably low nutrient content? Being local and organic isn’t an option for everyone in the world. Welcome to reality, where one size does not for all.

Avatar for Theresa Theresa says:

Okay maybe the project is good, but $500,000? Sounds quite pricey. This project sounds like taking tomatoes and putting them on your windowsill when they are not quite ripe.

Avatar for John C John C says:

My guess is that Theresa here, is just one of many sent by the anti-GMO fanatics to harass Dr. Foots at every opprrunity. She clearly didn’t read the article, or she doesn’t care what he’s doing. She has him ideologically demonized. Whatever he’s doing must be “bad”, because he has the guts and the knowledge to speak honestly about GMOs.

Avatar for Theresa Theresa says:

Why are you talking about GMO’s?? This does sound interesting, but do you think this is feasible to apply this to all of the strawberries and tomatoes produced and sent to the markets? I know LED requires low amounts of energy, but we need to reduce energy consumption.

Avatar for John C John C says:

Then why did you complain that they were “perfect the way they are” and wanted them to leave the strawberries and tomatoes alone?

You said nothing about the cost of the power required, which would be minimal, in your original comment.

The cost of LED would be negligible compared to the cost of lost produce.

Avatar for Margaret Margaret says:

500 K is really a small amount of money. And yeah, we should reduce energy consumption, so let’s all give up our refrigerators. More natural that way. OR maybe this leads to a situation where our refrigerators have led lights of certain wavelengths in them, keeping our food fresh and tasty for longer so less food is wasted, which means less trips to the grocery store, less big trucks hauling food to the store, less garbage in the landfill. Big picture.

Good Luck Dr. Folta and Dr. Colquhoun! This would be a great improvement with such a small cost. Most of the strawberries and tomatoes I buy at the supermarket are very lackluster and I would definitely buy more fresh produce if the taste improved.

Avatar for ChadF ChadF says:

Huh? Whether organic or not, the cultivars are exactly the same. Understanding flavor and trying to enhance it genetically or through a light treatment would be fantastic. Unclear Theresa’s concern. Good luck

Avatar for Patrick Patrick says:

You can keep living in the dark, or let in some light into your life.

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