Professor invents 'ripeness' sticker - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

bossradio93 · 07-26-2006, 06:30 PM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060726/..._fruit_sticker

Soon, consumers will be able to tell if the produce being bought is ripe enough for purchase by means of a sticker invented by a University of Arizona professor.

Professor invents 'ripeness' sticker

5 minutes ago

TUCSON, Ariz. - A University of Arizona professor has invented a sticker that can tell consumers if a fruit or vegetable is ripe. The stickers will be available to growers next year and should make their way to supermarkets within two to three years, said Mark Riley, a UA assistant professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering.

He said growers and grocers throw out thousands of bushels of fruit each year because it ripened faster than it could get to market or be sold.

With no simple way to tell whether fruit that looks good on the outside will taste good on the inside, consumers often buy peaches, pears and melons they can't eat because they're under-ripe or overripe.

"Right now, picking fruit is more of an art than it is a science," Riley said.

A marker on Riley's RediRipe stickers detects a chemical called ethylene gas, which is released by fruit or vegetables as they ripen.

As that happens, the sticker turns from white to blue.

The more ethylene gas the fruit produces, the darker the blue, Riley said.

The color shift is not instantaneous once a sticker is attached. It takes about 24 to 48 hours, depending on how fast the fruit is ripening, Riley said.

And there are still bugs to be worked out: The stickers do not change color to reflect an overripe or rotten piece of fruit. Also, not all fruit produces enough ethylene to be detected by the sticker, said Jim McFerson, manager of the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission, a growers' research group that helped sponsor the research.

"There is still a lot of research to do," McFerson said.

Each sticker is expected to cost growers and grocers about a penny, Riley said.

There is a patent pending for the stickers through the UA. Riley said when RediRipe goes to market, the university will keep the patent and the company will license the product.

Research on ethylene's use in fruit ripening began in the 1940s, and the gas is used to ripen fruits and vegetables in storage.

Riley has done multiple small field tests on his stickers — including at an apple orchard in Willcox — and plans a much larger field test this fall in Washington.

___

Information from: Arizona Daily Star, http://www.azstarnet.com

Yahoo! News/AP-July 26, 2006

TJL · 07-26-2006, 06:36 PM

That's pretty clever.

I hope they perfect it. I'd like to see it work.

Ireneparalegal · 07-26-2006, 06:47 PM

Maybe he can invent one that people can stick to themselves so we can tell whether they are in a good mood or a real bad mood. Especially for women with PMS.

Chelsea · 07-26-2006, 07:02 PM

I'd swear, I thought I heard of this same thing being invented five years ago.

Lex Luthor · 07-26-2006, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Maybe he can invent one that people can stick to themselves so we can tell whether they are in a good mood or a real bad mood. Especially for women with PMS.

Now that idea would make a fortune

Courtnee · 07-26-2006, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Maybe he can invent one that people can stick to themselves so we can tell whether they are in a good mood or a real bad mood. Especially for women with PMS.

That would certainly come in handy with my mom. it's like she's always on her period or something. Jesus.

Ireneparalegal · 07-26-2006, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rock Princess

That would certainly come in handy with my mom. it's like she's always on her period or something. Jesus.

you are cute!

Hollow · 07-26-2006, 11:52 PM

nifty! U of A is pwnz0rs.

dawsongirl · 07-27-2006, 02:23 AM

rofl...when I was in school, the "cool" thing for weirdos to do was stick grocery labels on themselves, like ones that say Reduced for Quick Sale. I can see me sticking this ripeness sticker on my forehead. </dork>

Janice · 07-27-2006, 12:14 PM

I like this idea. I'm not good at picking out produce at all. I hate those bananas that stay green. That drives me crazy, lol.

Chocoholic · 07-27-2006, 12:42 PM

That invention would come in handy. I always seem to pick the produce that goes bad the day after I buy it

07-26-2006, 06:30 PM	#1
bossradio93 Game Show Fanatic! Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2004 Location: Bellflower, California Posts: 2,392	Professor invents 'ripeness' sticker http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060726/..._fruit_sticker Soon, consumers will be able to tell if the produce being bought is ripe enough for purchase by means of a sticker invented by a University of Arizona professor. Professor invents 'ripeness' sticker 5 minutes ago TUCSON, Ariz. - A University of Arizona professor has invented a sticker that can tell consumers if a fruit or vegetable is ripe. The stickers will be available to growers next year and should make their way to supermarkets within two to three years, said Mark Riley, a UA assistant professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering. He said growers and grocers throw out thousands of bushels of fruit each year because it ripened faster than it could get to market or be sold. With no simple way to tell whether fruit that looks good on the outside will taste good on the inside, consumers often buy peaches, pears and melons they can't eat because they're under-ripe or overripe. "Right now, picking fruit is more of an art than it is a science," Riley said. A marker on Riley's RediRipe stickers detects a chemical called ethylene gas, which is released by fruit or vegetables as they ripen. As that happens, the sticker turns from white to blue. The more ethylene gas the fruit produces, the darker the blue, Riley said. The color shift is not instantaneous once a sticker is attached. It takes about 24 to 48 hours, depending on how fast the fruit is ripening, Riley said. And there are still bugs to be worked out: The stickers do not change color to reflect an overripe or rotten piece of fruit. Also, not all fruit produces enough ethylene to be detected by the sticker, said Jim McFerson, manager of the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission, a growers' research group that helped sponsor the research. "There is still a lot of research to do," McFerson said. Each sticker is expected to cost growers and grocers about a penny, Riley said. There is a patent pending for the stickers through the UA. Riley said when RediRipe goes to market, the university will keep the patent and the company will license the product. Research on ethylene's use in fruit ripening began in the 1940s, and the gas is used to ripen fruits and vegetables in storage. Riley has done multiple small field tests on his stickers — including at an apple orchard in Willcox — and plans a much larger field test this fall in Washington. ___ Information from: Arizona Daily Star, http://www.azstarnet.com Yahoo! News/AP-July 26, 2006
	__________________ HBO Documentary: Left of the Dial: Grade: B+ "Morals aren't supposed to stop because it's politically inconvenient to continue them." Keith Olbermann - *Countdown with Keith Olbermann* April 22, 2009 (MSNBC) UPCOMING DVD RELEASES June 16, 2009: The Three Stooges Collection: Volume 6 Star Trek coming to KDOC-TV Monday May 4 @ 9:00pm Farewell KNX/CBS Columbia Square (April 30, 1938-August 12, 2005). Thanks for 67 great years of information and entertainment. My DVD Collection

07-26-2006, 06:36 PM	#2
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	That's pretty clever. I hope they perfect it. I'd like to see it work.
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

07-26-2006, 06:47 PM	#3
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Maybe he can invent one that people can stick to themselves so we can tell whether they are in a good mood or a real bad mood. Especially for women with PMS.
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

07-26-2006, 07:02 PM	#4
Chelsea Semi-retired Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Washington Posts: 5,727	I'd swear, I thought I heard of this same thing being invented five years ago.
	__________________ Chelsea Former Administrator, 2005-2012 Former Member, DVD Review Team, 2004-2010.

07-26-2006, 11:52 PM	#8
Hollow Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 16, 2001 Posts: 30,406	nifty! U of A is pwnz0rs.

07-27-2006, 02:23 AM	#9
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,140	rofl...when I was in school, the "cool" thing for weirdos to do was stick grocery labels on themselves, like ones that say Reduced for Quick Sale. I can see me sticking this ripeness sticker on my forehead. </dork>

07-27-2006, 12:14 PM	#10
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	I like this idea. I'm not good at picking out produce at all. I hate those bananas that stay green. That drives me crazy, lol.

07-27-2006, 12:42 PM	#11
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	That invention would come in handy. I always seem to pick the produce that goes bad the day after I buy it