Olivia loves strawberries but struggles to eat an entire package before they grow fuzzy, white mold on them. A friend suggests that she when she purchases strawberries, she should dip them in vinegar before storing them. To her surprise, this method made Olivia’s strawberries last much longer! Which statement BEST explains why the strawberries rinsed in vinegar didn’t have fuzzy mold on them?

A.
Vinegar is acidic and disrupts the pH balance that mold needs to grow on the strawberries.

B.
Vinegar encourages the production of lactic acid that preserves the strawberries.

C.
Vinegar kills the bacteria that cause mold to grow on the surface of the strawberries.

D.
Vinegar disrupts the strawberries’ natural peptide and keeps them from decomposing.