Why must bananas and other tropical fruits be protected from very cold storage temperatures?

Tropical fruits such as bananas, avocados, and mangoes must be protected from very cold storage temperatures because they are susceptible to chilling injury. Unlike many temperate-zone fruits that can be safely stored at temperatures between 32 and 41 °F (0 to 5 °C), these tropical varieties fail to ripen properly when exposed to prolonged cold.1

Chilling injury manifests through physiological damage to the fruit, including surface pitting and browning, as well as the darkening of the flesh. For instance, bananas are particularly sensitive and do not tolerate temperatures below 53 °F (12 °C). By maintaining appropriate storage temperatures, producers can avoid these injuries and prevent the associated deterioration of fruit quality.21