What you describe sounds more like industrial farming than tricks played by third world farmers (whatever that means). Industrial ag regularly treats product t

What you describe sounds more like industrial farming than tricks played by third world farmers (whatever that means). Industrial ag regularly treats product to modify the texture, color, and shelf life. Its extremely common to expose produce to various gases and chemicals to either delay or hasten ripening, for example. Other tricks are used while the plants are still in the ground or immediately after harvest, for example spraying grains with roundup to dry out more quickly.