PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for retaining the freshness of agricultural crops having a higher freshness retaining effect in an inexpensive manner.SOLUTION: A method for retaining the freshness of agricultural crops includes a near-infrared light irradiation step of irradiating the agricultural crops with near-infrared light. Therein, the near-infrared light irradiation step is performed by using a light source for emitting near-infrared light having two or more peak wavelengths which are different from each other. The wavelength of the near-infrared light is preferably within the range from 700 nm to 2500 nm. In the near-infrared light irradiation step, visible light irradiation is preferably performed in addition to the near-infrared light irradiation. Irradiation light intensity is preferably within a range of 1.4×10-2 W/m2 to 1.4×1024 W/m2.COPYRIGHT: (C)2015,JPO&INPIT【課題】 より高い鮮度保持効果が得られ、且つ、低コスト化された農作物の鮮度保持方法を提供する。【解決手段】本発明の農作物の鮮度保持方法は、農作物に近赤外光を照射する近赤外光照射工程を含み、前記近赤外光照射工程が、互いに異なる2つ以上のピーク波長を持つ近赤外光照射光源を用いて実施されることを特徴とする。前記近赤外光の波長は、700nm~2500nmの範囲であることが好ましい。前記近赤外光照射工程において、前記近赤外光の照射に加えて可視光の照射も実施することが好ましい。前記近赤外光の照射光強度は、1.4×10-2W/m2~1.4×1024W/m2の範囲とすることが好ましい。【選択図】 図7
