Controlling the ripening of bananas

Abstract

To control the ripening of bananas in industrial banana processing, a group of bananas that have been harvested is obtained. The group of bananas has a plurality of bananas attached at a common crown. A first portion of the bananas of the group is placed inside of an ethylene-permeable container. A second portion of the bananas of the group is kept outside of the container. The group of bananas is exposed to ethylene gas, where the first and second portions of bananas are exposed to ethylene gas at approximately the same time to initiate ripening of the first and second portions of bananas at approximately the same time. The first and second portions of bananas are allowed to begin ripening. As the bananas ripen, the container regulates the flow of oxygen into the container and carbon dioxide out of the container such that the first portion of bananas inside of the container are exposed to lower oxygen levels and higher carbon dioxide levels than the second portion of bananas outside of the container, to reduce the ripening rate of the first portion of bananas compared to the second portion of bananas.

1 . A method of controlling the ripening of bananas from harvest to sale in industrial banana processing, the method comprising: 
 harvesting one or more groups of bananas, each group having a plurality of bananas attached at a common crown;    placing a first portion of the bananas of each group inside of an ethylene-permeable bag, and keeping a second portion of the bananas of each group outside of the bag;    shipping the one or more groups of bananas to one or more destination markets;    exposing the one or more groups of bananas to ethylene gas, wherein the first and second portions of bananas of each group are exposed to ethylene gas at approximately the same time to initiate ripening at approximately the same time;    allowing the one or more groups of bananas to ripen, wherein, as the bananas ripen, the first portion of bananas of each group placed inside of the bag are exposed to lower oxygen levels and higher carbon dioxide levels than the second portion of bananas of each group kept outside of the bag, resulting in a slower rate of ripening of the first portion of bananas compared to the second portion of bananas;    shipping the one or more groups of bananas with the first portion of bananas of each group placed inside of the bag and the second portion of bananas of each group kept outside of the bag; and    displaying the one or more groups of bananas to be purchased by a consumer with the first portion of bananas of each group placed inside of the bag and the second portion of bananas of each group kept outside of the bag to allow the purchaser to purchase a group of bananas with at least two portions of bananas at two different ripening stages.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bag comprises a material selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, butadiene, polystyrene, polyester, or any combination of these material.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bag has one or more perforations.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein each said perforation has a diameter greater than or equal to about 20 microns and less than or equal to about 12.5 mm.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bag is closed by a fastener.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the fastener is selected from the group consisting of a tie, tape, rubber band, or cord.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bag is placed loosely around the first portion of bananas.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bag is placed tightly around the first portion of bananas.  
     
     
         9 . A method of controlling the ripening of bananas in industrial banana processing, the method comprising: 
 obtaining a group of bananas that have been harvested, the group having a plurality of bananas attached at a common crown;    placing a first portion of the bananas of the group inside of an ethylene-permeable container, and keeping a second portion of the bananas of the group outside of the container;    exposing the group of bananas to ethylene gas, wherein the first and second portions of bananas are exposed to ethylene gas at approximately the same time to initiate ripening of the first and second portions of bananas at approximately the same time; and    allowing the first and second portions of bananas to begin ripening, wherein the container regulates the flow of oxygen into the container and carbon dioxide out of the container such that the first portion of bananas inside of the container are exposed to lower oxygen levels and higher carbon dioxide levels than the second portion of bananas outside of the container, to reduce the ripening rate of the first portion of bananas compared to the second portion of bananas.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the container comprises a material selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, butadiene, polystyrene, polyester, or any combination of these material.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the container comprises a polymer that modifies the permeability of container to oxygen and carbon dioxide.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the container has one or more perforations.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each said perforation has a diameter greater than or equal to about 20 microns and less than or equal to about 12.5 mm.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the container is a bag.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the bag is closed by a fastener.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the fastener is selected from the group consisting of a tie, tape, rubber band, and cord  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the container is placed loosely around the first portion of bananas.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the container is placed tightly around the first portion of banana.  
     
     
         19 . A method of providing one or more groups of bananas in industrial banana processing, the method comprising: 
 obtaining a group of bananas -from a supplier, the group having a plurality of bananas attached at a common crown,    wherein a first portion of the bananas of the group is less ripe than a second portion of the bananas of the group,    wherein the first portion of bananas has been placed inside of an ethylene-permeable container and the second portion of bananas has been kept outside of the container after being harvested,    wherein the first and second portions of bananas have been exposed to ethylene gas at approximately the same time to initiate the ripening process of the first and second portions of bananas at approximately the same time, and    wherein the first portion of bananas inside of the container has been exposed to lower oxygen levels and higher carbon dioxide levels than the second portion of bananas outside the container, to ripen the first portion of bananas at a slower rate than the second portion of bananas; and    displaying the group of bananas to be purchased by the consumer, wherein the container is maintained over the first portion of bananas.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the container is a bag.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the bag comprises a material selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, butadiene, polystyrene, polyester, or any combination of these material.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the bag has one or more perforations.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein each perforation has a diameter greater than or equal to about 20 microns and less than or equal to about 12.5 mm.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the bag is closed by a fastener.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the fastener is selected from the group consisting of a tie, tape, cord, and rubber band.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the bag is placed loosely around the first portion of bananas.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the bag is placed tightly around the first portion of bananas.  
     
     
         28 . A system for ripening bananas, the system comprising: 
 an ethylene-permeable bag placed over a first portion of bananas of a group of bananas attached at a common crown,    wherein a second portion of bananas of the group are kept outside of the bag,    wherein the bag permits the first and second portions of bananas to be exposed to ethylene gas at approximately the same time to initiate the ripening process of the first and second portions of bananas at approximately the same time, and    wherein the bag controls the flow of oxygen and carbon dioxide to expose the first portion of bananas inside of the bag to lower oxygen levels and higher carbon dioxide levels than the second portion of bananas outside of the bag, to ripen the first portion of bananas at a slower rate than the second portion of bananas.