Consider why we use packaging in the first place. In addition to protecting food from its microbial surroundings, packaging significantly prolongs shelf life, which in turn improves the chances of the food actually being eaten. According to the Cucumber Growers’ Association, just 1.5 grams of plastic wrap extends a cuke’s shelf life from three to fourteen days, all the while protecting it from “dirty hands.” Another study found that apples packed in a shrink-wrapped tray cut down on fruit damage (and discard) by 27 percent. Similar numbers have been found for potatoes and grapes. Again, while
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