Top Banana

How Top Banana Moves Over One Million Pounds of Bananas Per Week | Eater

"Operating as the Northeast's largest vendor of Dole bananas, the facility runs a sophisticated, science-driven ripening operation: trucks begin unloading hundreds of boxes as early as 5 a.m., sample fruit are checked with pulp thermometers, and bananas are moved into temperature- and pressure-controlled rooms where carefully dosed ethylene gas triggers uniform ripening. The company invested heavily in custom internal software to coordinate the process — where fluctuations of even half a degree can make a difference — and once fruit reaches optimal ripeness it is held at an ideal 58°F before inspection and shipment to grocery stores, home-delivery customers, and food-service clients." - Terri Ciccone