Final answer:
Inform a store employee about the rotten orange to prevent it from affecting other produce and to uphold store standards. Ethylene gas produced by ripe fruits can accelerate the ripening and potential spoilage of nearby produce. This exemplifies the physical and emotional significance of preserving fresh produce.
Step-by-step explanation:
If you see a rotten orange in one of the boxes in the produce department, it is important to address the issue to maintain the quality of the produce and the health of consumers. The best course of action would be to inform a store employee or the produce manager so they can remove the spoiled fruit. This can help prevent the spread of mold or fruit flies, and it can also prevent other oranges in close proximity from degrading faster due to the release of ethylene gas, which hastens ripening and can lead to further spoilage.
Ethylene gas is a plant hormone that triggers the ripening process in many fruits. If you place a ripe apple or banana together with an unripe fruit in a closed container or paper bag, the ethylene gas produced by the ripe fruit will likely accelerate the ripening of the unripe one.
The excerpt from Susan Glaspell's play "Trifles" illustrates the sadness associated with the spoiling of preserved fruits. The character Mrs. Hale expresses sympathy for the hard work wasted due to the spoiled fruits, indicating the emotional value people attach to homemade preserves and the disappointment that comes with their loss.