Is it true some fruits and vegetables are in storage for 2 years before they make it to your grocery store?!?

Question

I was having a discussion with a co-worker about healthy foods, vitamins, and nutrients when we were talking about green harvesting and the pros and cons of said harvesting.
I had mentioned the vitamins, minerals and essential good stuff one needs in produce isn't fully in the produce until the last 24 hours of ripening.

He than informed me he had been in a biology class and was told that the produce, esp. apples, were green harvested and sprayed with some kind of preservative to help keep it from spoiling, then stored in a cool place for up to 2 years. When it is ready for use, they spray it with a labratory produced chemical to speed ripening. This chemical is similar to an actual chemical or hormone found naturally in produce during the ripening process. That is why you have apples in December from Washington or California.

My question is, does anyone else know of this? Also, if it is true, how does that make you feel? Will it affect the way you shop?

That is very interesting Preacher, but do you know why they do this? Is there a reason for it?

Tkquestion's, what if farmers made more produce than what is actually sold? Wouldn't it make sense to store surpluss until it can be used?

Answer 1

yes its true and not only of apples but also potatoes.
I have been a truckdriver for over 17 years hauling produce
and other food items.somehow they put them in storage use
a certain type of gas that in a sense puts them in a dormant
state that doesnt allow them to ripen.I hope this helps.May the love of JESUS be upon you AMEN.

Answer 2

No, that is not true.

There is NO economic reasons to harvest it and hold it for two years - paying for the storage and risk damage to the goods. It also delays being paid for two years. Makes absolutely no sense.

It is true they that they are harvested green. Sometimes, growers and transportation companies use cold storage technique to prevent them from spoiling. During the transit from the farm to the store, they ripen on its own.

It is interesting people will make up all kinds of bizzar reasons to make their own opinions and propaganda seem more plausible.


To answer your question of what happens if more were produced than needed.

One thing you need to realize is, farmers profit are so small that storing anything long term with hopes that he can make profit later is not possible. Just the fact that he has to maintain such environment will completely wipe out the profit. Tyipcally, they will be crushed without being picked and goes back into soil.

When you see produce that are out of season, they are coming from different parts of US or even from foreign countries. Knowing how much they are sold for, and all the cost involved, you'll see how futile it is to keep it for later sale.

While your story sound plausible, at least, to my best of knowledge, it is not practiced, at least in wide scale.

If that was economically possible, why would anyone CAN or FREEZE any produce?

Answer 3

This is why more people are buy Organic fruits and veggies these days then the other stuff. Why do you think that when you go to the store and you see fruits that are spoiled on the shelves. After they are released to the stores and exposed to the air they spoil fast. Veggies are the same way.

Buy Organic and live longer.......

Answer 4

It's not true.