Is there a way to hasten or...

Mature fruits give off ethylene gas which stimulates ripening. To hasten ripening, put your bananas in a brown bag with an apple. To slow the ripening, keep the bananas cool and away from other fruits (which also give off gas and cause nearby bananas to ripen). Disconnecting each banana from the bunch will also slow the ripening. In 1969, Chiquita was granted the first patent for “modified atmosphere packaging,” which retards banana ripening during shipping. In 1994, Chiquita outfitted its ships and containers with state-of-the-art technology to slow the ripening process and enhance quality.