Does the sun light have to have direct access to fruits to make them sweet?

Question

I understand that sun light is needed for fruits to ripen. In the years with less sun light, the fruits are usually not so sweet. So the sun light is needed to make the fruits sweet. *Where* and how does the sweetening process occur? Does the sugar in the fruits come from the photosynthesis occurring in the green parts of the plant (leaves) and is then conducted to the fruits, or is the sugar produced in the fruits themselves? **Does it matter whether the sun shines directly to the fruits, or is it enough if just the leaves have enough sun light and the fruits become equally sweet even if they are hidden under the leaves?**

Answer 1

Great question and good observation! Your first hypothesis is correct: it is the sugars produced in the leaves during photosynthesis that is then stored in the fruit. There are a VERY short list of fruits that contribute any of their own sugars, and they are usually not a significant percentage. So as long as the plant itself has ample sun, your fruit should be equally sweet whether the actual fruit is shaded or not.