A New Irrigation Technique for Control of Pathogens on Internal Surface of Green Leaves Produce

Contamination of produce eaten raw has been increasingly implicated in foodborne outbreaks in the USA. The study has shown that an E. coli outbreak resulted in illness and deaths, and $37 to 74 million losses for the California produce industry. The major cause of the E. coli outbreak is the contamination of the internal surface and tissue of the plants (internalization). The fresh produce can be contaminated with human pathogens like E.coli, which is shed in the feces of healthy cattle and other farm or wild animals, and can persist in the environment over extended periods. The studies have shown that internalization of E. coli in growing lettuce or spinach occurred. Postharvest sanitizer wash is intended to reduce microorganisms on the produce surface, but will not be effective if microbes are inside the tissues. The advanced irrigation technique is suggested to prevent microbes growth on the internal surface and inside the tissues. The proposal describes the irrigation method that prevents microbiological growth of enteric pathogens in plant tissues, plant surface and root zone. The disinfectant solution is safe to use on foods and will leave no chemical or environmental residue. A low-cost automated system generates and injects the disinfectant to the irrigation water. Monitoring and control of the parameters of water, soil and plants (surface and tissue) will be conducted.