Green LED light could help keep leafy greens fresher longer

This article was republished with permission from McGill.ca

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Low-intensity green lighting in refrigerated storage can slow spoilage in leafy greens, helping maintain their appearance and nutritional value, according to a new study from McGill University, funded in part by Mitacs.

“We found that something as simple as changing the light in refrigerated storage may help fresh produce stay fresher for longer,” said Shafieh Salehinia, lead researcher and affiliate member in the Biomass Production Lab, headed by Prof. Mark Lefsrud.

The research, published in the Journal of Food Science, tested how different lighting conditions affect fresh spinach and lettuce during cold storage. The team compared green LED light with white light and complete darkness.

Green light stood out.

“In our studies, low-intensity green LED light helped reduce water loss, maintain appearance, preserve colour and texture, and support the retention of beneficial compounds such as antioxidants, phenolics, flavonoids and anthocyanins,” Salehinia said.

The results were clear in both spinach and lettuce. In spinach, green LEDs reduced moisture loss and kept leaves looking acceptable for longer, extending shelf life by about four days compared with storage in the dark.

Keeping produce fresh for longer matters beyond the lab. Fruits and vegetables are among the most commonly wasted foods, often because they lose visual appeal while they still are fit to be eaten.

The study builds on earlier research showing that light can influence how produce changes after harvest. But the role of green light has received little attention.

“Green light has often been overlooked in post-harvest research, while red and blue light have received much more attention because of their known effects on plant growth,” Salehinia said.

The team focused instead on what happens after harvest, when vegetables are no longer growing and the goal is to slow deterioration.

The researchers stored spinach at low temperatures for up to 18 days, measuring moisture loss, colour, texture, visual quality and levels of key nutrients. The findings suggest that green LEDs reduce deterioration in part by limiting water loss from the leaves, which is closely linked to visible decline in quality.

“For shoppers, this could mean fruits and vegetables that look better and last longer at home,” Salehinia said. “For growers and retailers, it could mean fewer losses and a more sustainable food supply chain.”

The researchers say further work is needed to scale up the approach, but the early results have allowed them to patent this technology and point to a practical way to extend shelf life using technology that is already widely available.

About the study

Optimizing Spinach Shelf Life and Nutritional Quality Using Targeted LED Light Treatments by Shafieh Salehinia, Sarah MacPherson, Kam Hammad and Mark Lefsrud was published in the Journal of Food Science. It was funded by U Technology Corporation, NSERC, and Mitacs.

About Mitacs

For over 25 years, Mitacs has helped grow the economy and develop the workforce of tomorrow, connecting industry with academia and global partners to solve real-world challenges. We support business-academic research collaboration through internships, co-funded with businesses, for undergraduate to graduate students and post-doctoral fellows.

As a national innovation connector, Mitacs takes a talent-first approach to strengthen innovation capacity and drive global competitiveness. We serve as an essential research-commercialization bridge, accelerating market entry and growth for new products and services.

This is a critical time for Canada to think big and take bold action. Mitacs is ready to help build a strong and resilient Canadian economy, powered by ideas, talent and innovation.

Mitacs is funded by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, Innovation PEI, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Yukon.