Keeping Produce Fresh Longer

Billions of dollars of fruits, vegetables, and flowers are thrown away each year as produce ripens too quickly and starts to rot in different markets before public buyers even buy them. You’d expect fruits and vegetables to start going bad after you pick them. However, they are still very much alive and emitting ethylene gas. This gas helps produce continue to ripen and bloom even after you pick them. Scientist are trying to find a way to control this gas and prevent it from over ripening or ripening the produce to fast so they don’t have to go to waste. It’s been concluded that photocatalysis is the best method for helping this. With this method a catalyst and light act together to remove ethylene by transforming it into carbon dioxide and water. This would help us preserve fruits and vegetables longer without them over ripening. I feel like this is a great effort towards conserving the billions of produce wasted everyday which can be easily eaten by people in third world countries who have no food. http://www.enn.com/agriculture/article/45981