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Hello, I am doing a science project for the science fair and I need to ask a proffessional a couple of questions for my project. Would you mind answering these questions for me? Why do different types of wrapping affect the spoilage of raspberries?
Question Date: 2011-12-14
Answer 1:

Fruits produce a hormone called ethylene, which is a gas, which causes fruit to ripen. The faster the fruit ripens, the faster it will also spoil. Wrappings that impede the flow of gas, such as plastic, will have different effects therefore than wrappings which do not impede gas flow, such as paper. Plastic may also be able to interact chemically with the ethylene, which will also affect the rate of ripening.



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