When a fruit ripens, it gets sweeter over time. Are the sugars already there for the fruit to get sweeter or how does it gain “sweetness” over time?

Question

When a fruit ripens, it gets sweeter over time. Are the sugars already there for the fruit to get sweeter or how does it gain “sweetness” over time?

In: 447

Answer 1

Besides what has already been said about the breakdown of starch, some fruit also produce additional sugar through photosynthesis when they’re ripening. This is why heirloom tomatoes that keep their green coloration until they are very ripe tend to be sweeter and spoil faster than classic grocery store tomatoes, which turn red very early in the ripening process (and are often picked green and artificially ripened as well)