Shopping for fresh produce online has always been a bit of a gamble since you're not actually selecting the fruits and veggies yourself. Santa Clara, California-based startup Robomarts aims to change that by bringing online produce shopping to your f...
It's challenging for shippers to check the quality of fruit on its way to your grocery store. Most sensors won't reflect the conditions inside the boxes, and plucking a sample isn't going to give you a comprehensive look. That's where some Swiss res...
It's scary when stores have to pull unsafe food. It can take days to pinpoint the batch or supplier that caused the problem, which could lead to people getting sick... or at best, force the store to yank more products than necessary. Walmart believ...
It’s estimated that up to a quarter of the world’s produce is lost to spoilage. That’s awful. But there are many products on the market designed to help delay the inevitable decomposition to set in. Of these, FreshPaper is one of the more interesting ones. It’s a piece of paper infused with edible organic ingredients that, when placed underneath fruit or veggies, is said to help slow down decay by up to two to four times the regular period. These ingredients “inhibit bacterial and fungal growth, as well as enzymes that cause over-ripening.” There is no zeolite, no sodium permanganate, no charcoal, and absolutely no plastic, unlike other products on the market. One of the ingredients, fenugreek, imparts the FreshPaper with a Maple-like scent, which is also indicative that the paper is still effective. When it doesn’t smell anymore, toss it out and use a new one. Each sheet is 5″ x 5″ and is enough to keep a bowl of produce fresh.
The Holiday Crate pictured above contains 10 packs of 8 sheets, and costs $65. If you can do without the decorative crate, the same amount of FreshPaper costs $43. With the Holiday feasts just around the corner, this might make a pretty decent stocking stuffer.
[ Product Page ] VIA [ DVice ]
It's a terrifying thought, but science suggests that when under attack, plants cry for help. Invisible and, often odorless, green leaf volatiles emitted from vegetation act as a defense mechanism, communicating to other foliage that danger is near. One researcher at the University of Georgia, however, is developing a chemical sensor to use these distraught emissions for good. Working in a similar fashion detecting glucose in the blood, the sensor would be able to alert farmers to when crops are under attack from pests, allowing them to trigger defenses reactively, and in a localized area. The net result being less chemicals on our food, and potentially lower costs for producers. Other suggested uses include helping us keep our produce at home fresher for longer by -- literally -- weeding out bad apples in a bag, before they affect the others. The technology is still being optimized for field use, but a testing device should follow once complete. In the meantime, we'll never feel the same about mowing the lawn again.
Chemical sensors could detect plants' cries for help, reduce need for pesticides originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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