Patent ID: 9237757
Filing Date: 2016-01-19
CPC Classification: A23B

Claim Text:
1. A method for accelerating the ripening of unripe bananas, wherein the unripe bananas are not ripened more than to color stage 1 and wherein the unripe bananas are ripened to color stage 3.0 to 3.5, the method comprising the following steps: a. exposing the unripe bananas for about 24 hours to exogenous ethylene gas by flowing treatment air containing the exogenous ethylene gas over the surface of the bananas, wherein: b. ending the exposing by ventilating the bananas with forced air at an air temperature of about 50° F. (10° C.) to about 80° F. (27° C.); c. storing the bananas in air at an air temperature of about 50° F. (10° C.) to about 60° F. (16° C.) for about 24 hours or until the bananas have reached a color stage of 2.5 to 3.0; d. ventilating the stored bananas with forced air at an air temperature of about 50° F. (10° C.) to about 80° F. (27° C.) to reduce the concentration of CO e. storing the bananas in a controlled air temperature of about 50° F. (10° C.) to about 60° F. (16° C.) for about 24 hours or until the bananas have reached a color stage of 3.0 to 3.5; thereby accelerating the ripening of the bananas to color stage 3.0 to 3.5.