Disclosed are methods to temporarily delay the ripening, maturation or senescence of produce such as fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants comprising the steps of (a) identifying produce for which delaying or slowing of ripening is desirable and (b) applying glycine betaine (2-trimethylammonioacetate, TMG, betaine anhydrous, N,N,N-trimethylglycine) to said produce. The methods are especially useful for treating produce that does not respond well to the application of 1-MCP such as pears, which are often unable to ripen at all after 1-MCP treatment resulting in hard pears with low levels of sugars. The application of glycine betaine as an alternative anti-ripening agent which can delay ripening or maturation of pears, but is advantageously reversible, may be applied before, during or after harvesting.
