How often do you buy a bulk box of fruit or vegetables, only to find them molding in your refrigerator a few days later? With the popularity of farmers’ markets, online shopping services and club stores, the temptation to buy more, save more is too often offset by the frustration of perishing produce. 

It doesn’t have to be that way. European appliance maker Blomberg is incorporating into its refrigerators a technology to keep fruits and vegetables fresher (and preserve nutrients, too) in specially-lit crisper drawers. Parent company Arcelik introduced “blue light” technology in refrigeration in 2007, and in addition to now offering it in its own Blomberg line, is providing the technology to California-based Dacor for its new French Door refrigerator.

The refridgerators’ drawers are lit with blue LEDs with a wavelength of 435-490 nanometers. According to the manufacturer, light of this wavelength mimics the process of photosynthesis that sustains plants in their pre-harvested state. The manufacturer cites research in which the vitamin C concentration of tomatoes stored under the blue light diminished by only 2.3% in three days, compared to 23% in a conventional fridge. Similar tests with red and green peppers resulted in vitamin C concentrations diminishing by 5% in five days under blue light compared to 15% under ordinary light.

• Blue Light is available in the fresh food section of four Blomberg models, with plans to roll it out to more. It is also currently available as BlueV™ on one Dacor refrigerator.

• Three of the Blomberg Blue Light-equipped models are its 1800 Series European-sized refrigerators, (about six inches narrower than most free-standing American models at 29-1/8″ wide), with bottom freezers, two doors and countertop depths. The fourth is a unique, four-door countertop-depth French door model (BRFD 2650 SS).

• Prices start at $2,210 for the 1800 series and $3,420 for the French door. The Dacor French door has a $2,999 UMRP (unilateral manufacturer’s retail price).

• Blomberg refrigerators are sold through distributors. A list of them can be found on their website at www.blombergappliances.us. Dacor refrigerators are sold at appliance showrooms, which can be found at dacor.com.

Jamie Gold, CKD, CAPS is a certified kitchen designer in San Diego and the author of New Kitchen Ideas That Work (Taunton Press 2013).

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