When fruit and vegetables are shipped, trucked, and flown from farm to market, both the commercial and organic produce industries utilise devices to absorb the ethylene gas that fruits and vegetables emit as they ripen. The use of these devices essentially stops the ripening process so that produce can be shipped to market looking freshly picked, and not wilted or fuzzy.

The ripening of fruit and vegetables is a chemical process that is caused by ethylene gas, a natural plant hormone. It initiates and accelerates the ripening of fruit and vegetables, and then causes them to deteriorate. By lowering the level of ethylene gas surrounding fruits and vegetables, their shelf life can be greatly increased, slowing the maturation of fruit, protecting vegetables, and greatly reducing spoilage.

These ethylene gas absorbing or neutralizing devices (with an organic carrier medium of volcanic ash) have been utilized safely by both the organic and commercial produce industries for over 20 years.

Most fruit (including avocados and tomatoes) should be stored at room temperature and away from direct sunlight until ripe. Tropical fruit such as pineapple and bananas are chill sensitive and should not be stored in the refrigerator.

To reduce wilting due to water loss, keep leafy and root vegetables, such as silverbeet, broccoli, carrots and parsnips refrigerated. Also by removing leafy tops from carrots, parsnips, turnips and beetroot, their storage life can be extended many weeks whilst in the refrigerator. Keep potatoes in a cool, dark, well ventilated place to avoid greening and sprouting. Sweet potatoes however are cold sensitive and should not be kept in the fridge. Apples pears, stone fruits and strawberries can be refrigerated. Citrus fruits, cucumbers, passionfruit, capsicums and eggplant can lose water easily during refrigerated storage.

Different varieties of a fruit and veggies often have better keeping qualities than others at a given storage temperature.

BluApple – a simple, organic, non-toxic, BPA-free and recyclable device for the home and business  extends the storage life of produce up to three times longer. The BluApple provides a solution to the problem of keeping expensive produce fresh, adapting technology that has been used safely and successfully by the commercial and organic produce industries for decades.

Scientific research was carried out by PostHarvest Fresh, an independent research and consulting company located at Sydney University, Sydney, confirmed that BluApples stored with fruits and vegetables were found to significantly reduce ripening and softening.

The BluApple brings industrial strength technology to your home to reduce spoilage and extend the useful life of your produce. The product can simply be placed in the refrigerator produce drawer or fruit bowl and the contents are protected from ethylene gas. It’s as simple as that. By changing the packet inside every three months, you have a permanent solution to the produce storage problem. BluApple users will reduce waste and save money.