The Effect of Ethylene upon Ripening and Respiratory Rate of Avocado Fruit

Avocado fruits will not ripen while attached to the tree. This is a definite advantage to the grower, the packinghouse operator, the shipper and the retailer, because the harvest period can be extended over a comparative long period and at all stages of handling the fruit are firm, therefore less susceptible to mechanical damage. However, the consumer is normally confronted with hard inedible avocados which require a wait after purchase to ripen. The advantage of impulse buying for tonight's guests is lost. Other fruits as bananas, mature-green tomatoes and honey-dew melons are ripened during transit or at the terminal market before going to the retailer. An operation of this nature seems desirable for the avocado.