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It's just not physically possible to ship a tomato that's been fully vine ripened for a thousand miles. Once they're fully ripe, they're too fragile to ship an
by jonah 11y ago
It's just not physically possible to ship a tomato that's been fully vine ripened for a thousand miles. Once they're fully ripe, they're too fragile to ship an appreciable distance. So, the big producers pick them hard and unripe and ship them. Yes, they'll continue to ripen off the vine, but once they've been cut off from their source of nutrients and water they're not going to get any more. It's the trade off necessary to have produce outside of the local season. (Greenhouses in upstate with grow lights would be a better alternative way to get tomatoes in New York City in January though.)
- johansch 11y ago> Once they're fully ripe, they're too fragile to ship an appreciable distance. That is a mechanical problem. It can and probably has been solved, except it's likely a bit more expensive than just chucking them into a box. Again, the price point.