New Label Shows When Fruit Is Ripe

Dekaner writes "New Scientist has an article about a new 'smart' label developed in New Zealand changes color as fruit inside the package with it ripens. The label is designed to stop customers squeezing the fruit to tell if it is ripe enough to eat. The first packages to be tested contain pears, which need to be soft before they are eaten. If the labels prove effective with pears, the research institute in New Zealand will develop versions that work with kiwi fruit, avocados and melons."

Comments

Squeeze Harder

[Anonymous Coward]

Thats not going to stop people from squeezing even harder to ripen the damn thing.

mmmmm

[Anonymous Coward]

Nice melons.

Nature did it already

[AtariAmarok]

There is already a label that appears on fruit when it is ripe. It is called a fruitfly.

melons

[nycsubway]

You should always be able to squeeze melons. Theres nothing wrong with squeezing them, you need to be able to tell if it's firm but soft. Too soft isn't good.

A label will never be able to replace the feel of squeezing a melon.
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Re:melons

[Anonymous Coward]

You should always be able to squeeze melons. Theres nothing wrong with squeezing them, you need to be able to tell if it's firm but soft. Too soft isn't good.

I tried explaining this to the wife, but first she insisted she had a headache, then slapped me for suggesting they were too saggy.

Re:Just cant see this being a hit with certain peo

[Red Rocket]

...but for the older 'cook from scratch' generation, I just cant see it being a big hit.

Don't worry. The new Medicare bill will take care of those trouble-makers.

Re:Just cant see this being a hit with certain peo

[hurtstotouchfire]

I wouldn't buy fruit or veggies without touching them. I check apples for firmness, smell carrots, sueeze and smell peppers, taste the end of celery, wiggle the stems of artichokes, etc. That's just how a smart consumer/cook buys produce.

That's disturbing. Now not only do I know that my food has been sniffed and squeezed (or licked apparently in the case of celery), but that description in general was horrifying reminiscent of foreplay.

Interesting Enough....

[bored_SuSE_user]

Eddie Izzard made a comment about pears: " And pears can fuck off too. 'Cause they're gorgeous little beasts but they're ripe for a half an hour...and you're never there!"