UV Fruit/Vegetable Storage Box

It turns out that some fruit and vegetables store perfectly well at room temperature vs refrigerated. Tomatoes in particular are much better. The motivation for storing such produce in the fridge is down to inhibiting how they spoil. Usually some mold/fungus takes hold in a vulnerable spot and before you know it, the mold spreads. Refrigerated, this process is dramatically slowed.

The above process doesn't tend to happen on the vine, however. This is because mold doesn't do well in the powerful broad spectrum light and temperatures of summer sun. Tomatoes, and other plants, do really quite well in this environment. They're well adapted to bright visible & UV light despite it's potentially dangerous interactions with biomolecules. Plants produce a whole raft of sunlight-induced polyphenol this and phytochemical that to absorb dangerous light and mop up the free radicals that can result. These chemicals are implicated in the flavor and nutritive value of fruit/vegetables.

So let's invent a countertop fruit storage solution that uses nice bright white light to display our lovely fruit, and intermittently illuminates the chamber with UVA/B/C*. If we have a normal glass/transparent plastic chamber, we will be completely safe, obviously a door interlock will also be included. The bottom & back of the chamber should be reflective/have their own LEDs to ensure as close to 360 degree coverage as possible. There should also be air circulation via a small fan, this will provide 2 opportunities, either a tiny ozone generator to have synergistic effects on mold, or in-line activated charcoal** to absorb the ethylene gas that speeds (over) ripening.

There, now you won't pick up a lovely orange and go "urgh!" anymore.

*There are relevant benefits to each, but LEDs exist for all, so we're good. **in ludicrously expensive proprietary cartridges, as is tradition. Bonus points for using the subscription model.