METHODS OF HANDLING PAPAYA

1 . A method of storing papayas, comprising exposing papayas to an atmosphere that contains a cyclopropene compound, wherein either

(a) the papayas are in a modified-atmosphere package during exposure to the cyclopropene compound, or;

(b) the papayas are placed into a modified-atmosphere package after exposure to the cyclopropene compound, and the papaya remain in the modified atmosphere package for at least two hours.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the modified-atmosphere package is constructed so that the transmission rate of oxygen for the entire package is from 200 to 40,000 cubic centimeters per day per kilogram of papaya.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the modified-atmosphere package is constructed so that the transmission rate of carbon dioxide for the entire package is from 500 to 150,000 cubic centimeters per day per kilogram of papaya.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the modified-atmosphere package has a GT-30 or GT-25.4 for carbon dioxide at 23° C. from 800 to 150,000 cm 3 /(m 2 -day).

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the modified-atmosphere package has a GT-30 or GT-25.4 for oxygen at 23° C. from 200 to 150,000 cm 3 /(m 2 -day).

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the modified-atmosphere package has a GT-30 or GT-25.4 for water vapor at 37.8° C. from 5 to 1,000 g/(m 2 -day).

7 . A method of handling papayas comprising,

exposing the papayas to an atmosphere that contains a cyclopropene compound, wherein

(i) the papayas are in a modified-atmosphere package during exposure to the cyclopropene compound, or

(ii) the papayas are placed into a modified-atmosphere package within two hours after exposure to the cyclopropene compound;

and the papayas remain in the modified atmosphere package after the exposure for at least two hours.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the modified-atmosphere package is constructed so that the transmission rate of oxygen for the entire package is from 200 to 40,000 cubic centimeters per day per kilogram of papaya.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the modified-atmosphere package is constructed so that the transmission rate of carbon dioxide for the entire package is from 500 to 150,000 cubic centimeters per day per kilogram of papaya.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the cyclopropene compound is in a formulation with a molecular encapsulating agent.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the cyclopropene compound comprises 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and the molecular encapsulating agent comprises alpha-cyclodextrin.

12 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the cyclopropene compound is of the formula:

wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, phenyl, or naphthyl group; wherein the substituents are independently halogen, alkoxy, or substituted or unsubstituted phenoxy.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein R is C 1-8 alkyl.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein R is methyl.

15 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the cyclopropene compound is of the formula:

wherein R 1 is a substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkenyl, C 1 -C 4 alkynyl, C 1 -C 4 cycloalkyl, cylcoalkylalkyl, phenyl, or napthyl group; and R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 are hydrogen.

16 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the cyclopropene comprises 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP).

17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the molecular encapsulating agent comprises alpha-cyclodextrin, beta-cyclodextrin, gamma-cyclodextrin, or combinations thereof.

18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the molecular encapsulating agent comprises alpha-cyclodextrin.

19 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the concentration of the cyclopropene compound during the exposure is from 10 ppb to 5 ppm.

20 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the papayas are placed in the modified-atmosphere package within two hours after harvest.