11/6/06 Staying Fresh

The mass production of produce and flowers has created products with shelf lives that simply amaze. Today a Red Delicious apple retains it's crunch for nearly a month longer, thanks to a process called Smart Fresh that slows ripening. SmartFresh also allows countries like China and New Zealand to ship apples long distances without loosing quality. Roses grown in Chile, Mexico or Costa Rica are delivered to US stores nearly as fresh as when they were picked due in part to a product called FreshSpan a specialized packing system that modifies the atmosphere of shipping containers. While all of this bodes well for the both the commercial side of agriculture and consumers who now hold produce to impeccable standards, I have to wonder if we have "lost something in translation." When I buried my face into a bouquets of red roses, I was left longing for fragrances that no longer exist. The same holds true for treated apples, they often lack that tart aroma associated with fall. Yet I suspect it won't be long before that researchers develop with a method to retain fragrance while keeping freshness.