Thread: why bananas ripen other fruit

I thought that was well known?

Much of the fruit you buy has been "artificially" ripened using ethylene - which is handy for the farmers as they can pick a whole crop at once.

There are even now GM pineapples, which will not ripen until you spray them with ethylene.

Originally Posted by bob10

We have always taken fruit, such as mangoes, off the tree early,

Bob, what is the flavour like when you pick it green as opposed to a tree rippened mangoe.

Regards
Andrew

Do you know that green mangos are a favourite in P.N.G. The locals love them green. But I know they are a little strange up there because I thought I was very adept in shelling prawns quickly until my sil came along. He doesn't bother shelling them, eats them whole and loves them like that. YUK

Originally Posted by Andrew D

Bob, what is the flavour like when you pick it green as opposed to a tree rippened mangoe.

Regards
Andrew

Tree ripened mangoes seem to have a stronger mangoe " smell", but the taste is similar, although around here not many mangoes get the chance to ripen on the tree, fruit bats get them. Just an observation of mine, early in the season the bats fly high over our house, going further afield. As the season progresses, the bats seem to work their way back , they must clean everything out further afield. I stick my head out on dusk, and when I see the flying rats coming at a low altitude over our area, it's time to pick the most developed fruit, and bag them. Bob

Originally Posted by jx2mad

Do you know that green mangos are a favourite in P.N.G. The locals love them green. But I know they are a little strange up there because I thought I was very adept in shelling prawns quickly until my sil came along. He doesn't bother shelling them, eats them whole and loves them like that. YUK

Green mangoe chutney is a favourite of mine, and when cast netting for bay prawns, my mate & I often eat a few raw ones, delicious, with a strong salty flavour.Bob

Ethylene gas is used in many countries during transport and also soon after harvesting the green picked tomatoes however the use ethylene gas is not allowed on organic crops.

Originally Posted by isuzurover

I thought that was well known?

Much of the fruit you buy has been "artificially" ripened using ethylene - which is handy for the farmers as they can pick a whole crop at once.

There are even now GM pineapples, which will not ripen until you spray them with ethylene.

Hello from Brisbane.

Years ago my late Mum once told me she really liked a particular kind of fruit - can't recall which - especially when we were somewhere on the coast. The reason given was that back in the early 50s we lived in Griffith and the choice available for fruit imported into the MIA was then strictly between bananas and the other fruit whose name escapes me - could have been pineapples. Apart from quarantine, it seems that it came in green and there was only so much storage space in the special shed that had the ethylene ripening gear for it.

Guess that all changed over the years, but the central role of ethylene in ripening bulk produce hasn't.

Cheers,