1. Surrounding Temperature
At Trader Joe’s and Ralphs, both the apples and bananas were found at room temperature, whereas the broccoli was refrigerated at both locations. Temperature is the most important factor affecting respiration. Within a certain range, most respiration rates are directly related to temperature. As temperature increases, so do the respiration rates. Apples and bananas are not refrigerated because they display similar respiration rates when chilled as opposed to room temperature. Also, respiration rates increase dramatically when exposed to cold and then returned to warm temperatures. Broccoli needs to be refrigerated because it has an extremely high respiration rate at temperatures above 10°C. Temperature can also affect transpiration rates. Transpiration rates are directly related to temperature.
2. Packaging
At Ralphs, the broccoli and apples did not have any packaging, but the bananas did. At Trader Joe’s, the apples and bananas did not have packaging, but the broccoli did. Packaging is important because it can be used to protect and control the atmospheric composition surrounding the product. The bananas at Ralph’s had plastic wrap around the stems …show more content…
At Trader Joe’s the Bananas were separated from their ‘bunch’ and were sold by the each on tower shaped displays in the front of the store. The bananas at Ralphs were found on an incline table near other climacteric fruits. The bananas were in much better condition at Ralph’s than Trader Joe’s too. Another key difference was the amount of packaging used at the two stores. Many of the fruits and vegetables were pre-packaged at Trader Joe’s, whereas the produce at Ralph’s was open to the air and periodically misted with water. The same fruits and vegetables that were refrigerated at Ralph’s were also refrigerated at Trader Joe’s. The overall quality of produce was better at
At Trader Joe’s and Ralphs, both the apples and bananas were found at room temperature, whereas the broccoli was refrigerated at both locations. Temperature is the most important factor affecting respiration. Within a certain range, most respiration rates are directly related to temperature. As temperature increases, so do the respiration rates. Apples and bananas are not refrigerated because they display similar respiration rates when chilled as opposed to room temperature. Also, respiration rates increase dramatically when exposed to cold and then returned to warm temperatures. Broccoli needs to be refrigerated because it has an extremely high respiration rate at temperatures above 10°C. Temperature can also affect transpiration rates. Transpiration rates are directly related to temperature.
2. Packaging
At Ralphs, the broccoli and apples did not have any packaging, but the bananas did. At Trader Joe’s, the apples and bananas did not have packaging, but the broccoli did. Packaging is important because it can be used to protect and control the atmospheric composition surrounding the product. The bananas at Ralph’s had plastic wrap around the stems …show more content…
At Trader Joe’s the Bananas were separated from their ‘bunch’ and were sold by the each on tower shaped displays in the front of the store. The bananas at Ralphs were found on an incline table near other climacteric fruits. The bananas were in much better condition at Ralph’s than Trader Joe’s too. Another key difference was the amount of packaging used at the two stores. Many of the fruits and vegetables were pre-packaged at Trader Joe’s, whereas the produce at Ralph’s was open to the air and periodically misted with water. The same fruits and vegetables that were refrigerated at Ralph’s were also refrigerated at Trader Joe’s. The overall quality of produce was better at