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

perhaps...

[mOoZik]

So now instead of covering the fruits in wax or other substances to make them appear more attractive, they'll simply forge the labels to feign ripeness.

They're approaching this from the wrong direction

[Strange Ranger]

Does the label also tell us when the fruit is over ripe and too squishy to eat? That's the biggest reason I squeeze produce, I'm looking for rottenness, bruises and damage. If it's not ripe enough no big deal, I'll set it on my window sill until it is ripe. But getting a squishy piece of rotten fruit I think is what most people are trying to avoid.

For the most part grocery stores don't have a problem with getting produce to market too early. More the opposite, when the produce is too old and it pains them to throw it out at a loss.

Unfortunately something tells me that stores wouldn't be very interested in a sticker that turned into a Mr. Yuck when the fruit went bad.