How do fruits know when to ripen?
In Parshas Ki Savo, Bnei Yisrael are commanded to bring bikkurim, the first ripe fruits of the shivas haminim, as an offering to Hashem. Ripening is caused by a plant hormone called ethylene. This invisible gas tells the fruit it’s time to soften, sweeten, and change color. The plant makes ethylene when the fruit is mature and the seeds inside are ready to grow. As ethylene spreads through the fruit, it triggers enzymes that break down tough cell walls, change starch to sugar, and release smells that attract animals to eat the fruit. Some fruits, like bananas and avocados, keep ripening after they’re picked. Others, like grapes or citrus, stop changing once they’re off the tree.
When we bring bikkurim, we are showing the results of a beautiful system Hashem designed.
