Why don't they genetically modify fruit to be square/oblong so they stack better in supermarkets?

Answer 1

OTOH, why don't they have more SQUARE jars and bottles, which don't even need genetic engineering?

Strange thing. You can get SQUARE WATERMELONS without much trouble at all. You just have a square transparent plastic container over the growing watermelon, and break the container off when the fruit is ready. Voila, a cubical watermelon! I've actually seen these. Not only easier to stack, but easier to cut and carve. Fruit does not roll around, the sizes are all standardised, and made to fit neatly onto Japanese fridges. Have a look at story and piccy in site below. It looks like satire, but it's not.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1390088.stm

Just had a thoughtette. You could colour the containers so that the mature fruit had the producer's name engraved by the sun on the surface. Or you could have raised markings on the contrainers, so that it would print product details on the rind, in Braille.

Hey, that's copyright. No fair stealing my ideas, Mr Big Capitalist.

Answer 2

I would, but I avoid them for the environmental impacts of their production. I was completely opposed to GM foods until a few years ago as part of my degree I did research on GM foods and found that there isn't much evidence to indicate they are harmful to humans (although there is still uncertainty about long term impacts). They might be harmful to environments though, especially when pesticide resistant plant parts get into waterways. One more thing- agricultural practices like selective breeding are NOT the same as genetic modification. They rely on amplifying genes which are already present in the species, whereas GM can introduce genes from other species which have not arisen naturally in the cultivar. This cannot occur naturally, so you cannot compare the two processes.

Answer 3

Why would they want to do that when they just pick it off a tree and throw it in a barrell and sell it as it is! You would make things so complicated if you made it into squares. Are you going to build a fruit fortress or something?

Answer 4

They tried, with square watermelons. People didn't like it and wouldn't buy them. You'll probably see more of it in years to come as people become more accepting of genetically enhanced food.

Answer 5

Because it's more fun for the produce clerks to watch the panicked look on people's faces when they start an orange avalanche.

Answer 6

Gud 1?
I don't knw
I'll try 2 talk 2 manager

Answer 7

strawberries and oranges would look weird as a square or oblong garnish.

Answer 8

I love the idea. I hope they marinate it in pesticides as well...

(Sorry, I try and eat only organic, non genetically modified food.)

Answer 9

They do that already in Japan. I saw it on the news a few months ago.

Answer 10

It can be done! once you start cloning your off springs, instead of natural process.