Non Technical Summary
This proposed planning grant seeks to bridge this knowledge gap by engaging with the fresh produce industry and exploring their perspective on the application of UV-C light technologies. Focusing on Kansas and Missouri (where the specialty crop industry is burgeoning) and engaging with large-scale handlers and processors in Florida, Georgia, and Arizona alongwith a strong collaboration with International Fresh Produce Association makes the need for information on potential barriers to adopting UV light technologies acute. Therefore, the proposed work, through needs assessment (multistate questionnaire and focus groups) aims to illuminate the current practices, knowledge levels, research gaps, and potential barriers that shape industry members' decisions regarding UV-C technology. The insights garnered from the fresh produce industry stakeholders in this research will inform strategies to address research gaps in the full proposal, enhance industry education, tailor technological guidance, and ultimately facilitate the integration of UV-C technology into produce safety and quality operations. The overarching goal is to support the industry's transition towards more sustainable and safe produce cultivation practices, ensuring consumer health and environmental stewardship.

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
501	7410	1020	40%
603	7410	3010	10%
712	7410	1100	50%

Knowledge Area
603 - Market Economics; 501 - New and Improved Food Processing Technologies; 712 - Protect Food from Contamination by Pathogenic Microorganisms, Parasites, and Naturally Occurring Toxins;

Subject Of Investigation
7410 - General technology;

Field Of Science
1100 - Bacteriology; 3010 - Economics; 1020 - Physiology;

Goals / Objectives
This proposed planning grant seeks to bridge this knowledge gap by engaging with the fresh produce industry and exploring their perspective on the application of UV-C light technologies. Focusing on Kansas and Missouri (where the specialty crop industry is burgeoning), engaging with large-scale handlers and processors in Florida, Georgia, and Arizona and collaborating with the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) makes the need for information on potential barriers to adopting UV light technologies acute. Therefore, the proposed work, through needs assessment, aims to understand the current practices, knowledge levels, research gaps, and potential barriers that shape industry members' decisions regarding UV-C technology.We will bring together researchers and extension specialists to engage growers, processors, handlers and other industry stakeholders to establish a strong team that will work together to identify and assess the challenges and opportunities with the adoption of UV-C technologies for improving postharvest handling and food safety of fresh produce. We are confident that by identifying the research and knowledge gaps, we will be able to develop a strong competitive integrated multistate project that will be submitted in the next funding period. The specific objectives of the planning project are:?Develop an advisory panel among stakeholders to provide overarching guidance and diverse perspectives throughout the project.Develop a survey instrument and conduct a comprehensive needs assessment to assess the current awareness and perceptions of UV-C light technology among fresh produce industry stakeholders.Identify and prioritize barriers (knowledge and research) to the adoption of UV-C light technology within the fresh produce supply chain through needs assessment and stakeholder engagement.Disseminate findings through publications and conference meetings.

Project Methods
Survey methodology will be based on the Dillman Method [25] and focus groups will incorporate the Krueger and Casey approach [26] to effective qualitative research and Graffinga and Bosio guidance [27] on conducting online focus group discussions. The focus groups will be strategically designed and implemented to document and obtain feedback from stakeholders regarding the questionnaire results.Survey Instrument: The initial survey of our stakeholders will be done through an online questionnaire. Research has shown that electronic surveys are the fastest growing form of surveying across the United States and they can generate information quickly and at a low cost [25]. The online survey will be distributed nationally and activated December 2024 to February 2025. The survey will be disseminated to growers through social media, email listservs, and websites and will be directed specifically to groups such as the International Fresh Produce Association, Kansas Specialty Crop Growers Association, and other grower organization in participating states.Focus groups: We are planning to utilize online focus groups (OFG) since we need to be able to connect participants from all five states involved in this project. There are two main approaches for conducting online focus groups: synchronous and asynchronous groups. Research has shown that a combination of both allowed for detailed discussion during the asynchronous groups while also getting a broad and encompassing discussion in the synchronous discussion [27]. Co-PIs Rivard, Jenkins, Nwadike have experience working with focus groups to determine business education needs for beginning organic farmers through a project funded by a SARE graduate student grant. We are planning to hold online focus groups discussions of 6-8 participants in the five states from March 2025 to May 2025 in order to delve deeper into the specific needs or perspectives on UV-light technology in each state. Focus group discussions with some multistate groups will help us identify broader issues and perspectives on UV-C light technology.