High ethylene produce can become a problem in the kitchen, as they release a large amount of gas that will quickly ripen nearby fruit and vegetables and may lead to excessive food waste. Have you ever wondered why your lemons go off quicker when stored next to your bananas? That’s the power of ethylene! Read ahead for tips on how to properly store high ethylene fruit and veg and ethylene sensitive produce.

Usually, it is important to separate high ethylene produce from those that are sensitive to ethylene. If you like to store peaches and apples in a fruit bowl, try not to put them next to each other. We also recommend not to store produce in bags or sealed containers as this will trap the gas and cause the produce to ripen faster. However, you won’t need to worry about all this if you store your produce in The Swag!

The Swag’s intelligent, patented, non toxic design features breathable, cotton layers that allow your produce to breathe at their own pace and thrive! Thanks to the multi-layer technology behind The Swag, you can store any combination of fruit, veg and leafy greens in one Swag without worrying if high ethylene produce will ripen other produce inside the bag. Some people say you shouldn’t put everything together in a container or bag; however the vast majority of Swaggers are doing this and are loving it (The Swag team included)! You can of course experiment with separating your fresh produce - the coloured trims can help you code and organise your fridge for less rummaging! 

For bananas, we recommend these are left out at room temperature in a fruit bowl, as they will not do well in the fridge. Place them upside down, the way they are on the banana tree to slow down the ripening process. Should they start to go brown, take them out of their skin and freeze them – perfect for smoothies!

Tip from The Swag’s founder Peita Pini: Move unripened fruit from your Swags into your fruit bowl. When it is fully ripe, move it back into your Swags to slow down the ripening process. Choose a small Swag with a red trim to store your ripened fruit so you know what to eat first!

Below is a list of high ethylene producers and ethylene sensitive produce:

High ethylene Producers are:

• Apples
• Avocados
• Bananas
• Cantaloupe
• Kiwi
• Peaches
• Pears
• Peppers
• Tomatoes

Ethylene Sensitive Produce are:

• Apples
• Asparagus
• Avocados
• Bananas
• Broccoli
• Cantaloupe
• Collard
• Greens
• Cucumber
• Eggplant
• Grapes
• Honeydew
• Kiwi Lemons
• Lettuce
• Limes
• Mangos
• Onions
• Peaches
• Pears
• Peppers
• Squash
• Sweet Potatoes
• Watermelon