Creation of Self-Sterilizing Irrigation and Harvesting Tools.

Food production is a growing industry in Arizona making safe and sustainable practices for harvesting and irrigation of crops of the utmost importance. Harvesting materials, such as knives, packing crates, plastic pallets and processing tables, as well as irrigation pipelines, are constantly exposed to soil and other bacteria-laden environments presenting the risk for contamination. Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) and chlorine dioxide (ClO_2) have proven to be effective for household cleaning, but the utility of these products in long-term sanitization of harvesting materials and irrigation systems is largely unknown. By treating harvesting tools and irrigation pipelines with these compounds, we will be able to trace their efficiency in preventing contamination of the crop and biofilm accumulation in irrigation systems. On harvesting materials, we are quantitatively analyzing the presence of Escherichia coli as an indicator bacterium and assessing its ability to survive on harvesting equipment after treatment with sanitizing compounds. Study of the irrigation system will quantify the presence of Escherichia coli and Salmonella as indicators of biofilm accumulation. Gaskets within the irrigation pipeline will be treated with sanitizing agents and monitored for bacterial growth bi-weekly over two full years. Development of best management practices for long-term sanitization treatment of harvesting tools and irrigation pipelines will be greatly beneficial to growers of fresh produce nationwide.