Raspberry Pi, Smart Highways Win World's Biggest Design Prize 91
An anonymous reader writes "Last night the €500,000 INDEX: Award was awarded to five designs that can improve life for millions of people around the world. The winners include high-tech highways that light up at night, the $25 Raspberry Pi computer, a simple piece of paper that can cut food waste by extending the life of fresh produce by 2-4 weeks, and a plan for adapting to climate change."
Re:Cut food waste or...? (Score:5, Interesting)
Refrigeration doesn't do much with produce. Other than keeping it cold.
Ummm... reduces lost of water by evaporation (juicier for longer time).
Slows down the ripening process... when if comes to shelf life, the supermarkets will count as a loss a too high quantity of ripen fruits that need to be sold in a short time (at a lower price). Because ripe fruits can be damaged not only by bacteria/fungi but also by... hold on... their own weight (have you tasted a peach ripen on the tree until juicy, fragrant and so soft you can take a bite from it with you lips? You won't be able to ever buy it from the supermarket).
I usually keep my fruit un-refrigerated. It tastes better and lasts just as long.
From which I deduce you eat all your fruit mostly within 2 weeks of purchase. The fruit wholesalers may keep it for 2 years in cold storage though (and still have the audacity to sell it to you as fresh).