1. BEIJING - A chemical that ripens fruits and vegetables does no harm to human health, experts said following recent reports about a ripener used in several provinces.
2. Not so however in the warmer climates of the New World, where the varietal ripens more reliably.
3. In early summer, the fruit ripens and turns red as coral.
4. This allows batches of fruit to be freely traded - often before it even ripens.