In the following passage some of the words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the correct answer for the given blank out of the four alternatives.
Tons of fruits and vegetables are produced, processed, and (1) ______ on a daily basis so that we can buy them fresh. Many of these pieces of produce, however, never make it into stores. This is because many fruits and vegetables such as apricots, mushrooms, lettuce, and pears (2) ______ brown or spoil over time. This reaction is also (3) ______ enzymatic browning and is one of the largest causes of (4) ______ in fruits and vegetables - even though it does not make the food harmful to eat. The name enzymatic browning comes from the (5) ______ that an enzyme within the fruit turns the fruit brown.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 3.

In the following passage some of the words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the correct answer for the given blank out of the four alternatives.
Tons of fruits and vegetables are produced, processed, and (1) ______ on a daily basis so that we can buy them fresh. Many of these pieces of produce, however, never make it into stores. This is because many fruits and vegetables such as apricots, mushrooms, lettuce, and pears (2) ______ brown or spoil over time. This reaction is also (3) ______ enzymatic browning and is one of the largest causes of (4) ______ in fruits and vegetables - even though it does not make the food harmful to eat. The name enzymatic browning comes from the (5) ______ that an enzyme within the fruit turns the fruit brown.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 3.