The anti-rot police

Something we don't often think about is how long it's been since a fruit or vegetable we are about to eat was harvested.

- Swetha Sivakumar

The answer can range from a few weeks to several months.

This wasn't always the case. Shelf lives were much shorter, for fruits and vegetables susceptible to decay. The produce hasn't changed. So what has?

Before we get to the new methods, a quick primer. The key difference between produce that needs after-care and produce that thrives for weeks, just sitting in a basket, is function. What did nature intend that fruit, bulb or tuber to do?

Most fruits and vegetables are designed to spill their seeds soon after they hit the ground, and nourish them with their pulp and high water content. For these reasons, their exteriors essentially melt away in a matter of days, particularly in the presence of oxygen and warmth.

Dry staples such as rice, dal, onions and potatoes are nature's own cold storage. They are meant to lie dormant, and eventually nourish the plant over time, as it grows.