There is provided a method of storing bananas comprising the steps of (a) exposing said bananas to an atmosphere that contains one or more ethylene-active compound, and (b) after said step (a), exposing said bananas to an atmosphere that contains one or more cyclopropene compound while said bananas have color stage 2 to 6 on the seven-stage scale, wherein said bananas are kept in a modified-atmosphere package for a time period that includes at least a time interval that lasts for 1 hour, wherein said time interval begins between the conclusion of said step (b) and 72 hours from the conclusion of said step (b), and wherein said modified-atmosphere package is constructed so that the transmission rate of carbon dioxide for the entire package (PCT) is from 2,400 to 120,000 cubic centimeters per day per kilogram of bananas.
