Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CONTAINER FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the method for storage and
shipment of fresh agricultural produce and a package therefor.
Fresh fruit and vegetables, have, under normal conditions, a
limited storage time. This necessitates a rapid shipment procedure from the
time of harvest until the produce reaches the consumer. This necessity is
particularly problematic in case of export of such produce. Accordingly, it is
very often the practice to pick the product while not yet fully ripe, and
allow
the fivit or vegetables to ripen during shipment.
In the case of some vegetables or fruit, the shelf life of the
product may at times be extended by various means including cooling, storage
in a specific gaseous atmosphere, etc.
When shipping fresh agricultural produce, particularly high
quality produce, it is often the practice to place them immediately after
harvest
in a container with which they will be eventually distributed to consumers.
This
limits the amount of handling of the produce, which may be critical in case of
sensitive fruits or vegetables such as cherries, strawberries, cherry
tomatoes,
mushrooms, dates, sprouts, etc.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a packaging and method of
storage and shipment of fresh agricultural produce. The term 'fresh
agricultural produce " denotes fruits and vegetables which are sold to
consumers in their fresh, unprocessed state.
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Provided by the present invention are packagings as well as
method of using same in storage, handling, shipment and display of
agricultural
produce. The packaging and methods of the invention increase the shelf like of
fresh agricultural produce.
The term "shelf life " should be understood as meaning the period
of time where the agricultural produce remains fresh without showing any
substantial signs of product decay, e.g. over ripening, softening, etc. This
period of time is defined as the amount of time the produce remains fresh
under
room temperature and in a standard atmosphere.
The present invention is based on a surprising and not yet
understood finding that storage of fresh agricultural produce, in packagings
of
the kind to be defined below, gives rise to a dramatic increase in the shelf
life
of the agricultural produce under normal storage conditions, namely, at room
temperature. In accordance with the invention, this is achieved without
requiring any special treatments such as exposure to a specific gaseous
atmosphere, cooling, etc. Various embodiments of the invention are provided,
all of which can be used individually or in combination to achieve the object
of
the invention, namely, the provision of packaging and storage and handling
methods allowing shipment of fresh agricultural produce in packages in which
the agricultural produce is to be sold to consumers, while increasing the
shelf
life of the produce.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, there is
provided a packaging for storage, shipment or both of fresh agricultural
produce, made essentially of a polymeric material comprising at least two
layers, of which the internal layer comprises a polymeric material with one or
more additives having anti-fog properties. The term ' polymeric material " as
used in the specification, may be a laminated or a non-laminated material or a
co-extruded material. However, laminated materials are preferred.
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The term "made essentially of used above and below means to
denote that major portions of the package, namely, more than 50%, preferably
more than 70%, desirably more than 80% and typically more than 90% of its
surface, are made of the defined material. As will be appreciated, in addition
to
the defined polymeric material, the package may also comprise structural
components such as a base, a lid, reinforcing frame or ribs, etc.
Alternatively,
the entire package may be made of a rigid polymeric material.
The one or more additives with anti-fog properties, may be
selected from a number of such additives known per se in the art of polymeric
sheet materials, used in order to avoid condensation of fog or water drops on
the surface of the polymeric material comprising such additives. Other
additives may be added as well, e.g. repelling materials (slip), fungicides,
U.V.
' filtering substances, etc.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, there is
a provided a packaging for storage, shipment or both of fresh agricultural
produce, made essentially of a polymeric material, formed so that gases which
are emitted from the produce accumulate within the container. Such a material
also prevents atmospheric gases from entering into the packaging.
The term "accumulated within the container" means to denote
that the concentration of such gases is higher than in the atmosphere outside
the
packaging. While such gases may leak outside through the walls of the
packagings or openings formed in the walls, the rate of such leakage is slower
than the rate of their production by the produce.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention,
there is provided a packaging for storage, shipment or both of fresh
agricultural
produce, made essentially of a laminated polymeric material, designed such
that gases emitted by the produce accumulate within the package, in at least
an
upper portion thereof above the produce.
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In accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention,
there is provided a packaging for storage, shipment or both of fresh
agricultural produce, made essentially of a polymeric material, comprising one
or more openings for airation of the produce. By way of example, the package
may be provided with one or more openings at a base thereof, and one or more
openings formed at a mid or upper portion of the side wall of the container,
e.g.
at about two-thirds of its height. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it
may
be possible the air circulation within the container as a result of having
openings at a bottom of the packaging and a few openings at an upper side
portion of the packaging, may be the cause for the increase in shelf life of
the
produce.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, there is
provided a packaging for storage, shipment or both of fresh agricultural
produce, made essentially of a polymeric material, in which at least two
opposite side walls, converge from a wide base towards a narrow top portion
thus defining a structure with slanted walls.
The polymeric material may be rigid or flexible. Typically, the
polymeric material is a flexible film formed by folding and welding into the
desired packaging form. Preferably, the polymeric material is transparent over
major portions of its surface to allow proper display of the fresh
agricultural
produce to the consumers. Typically, but not exclusively, the polymeric
material is a laminate having an outer layer made of polyester, polypropylene,
cellophane, polyamide, etc. The outer layer may be made of bi-oriented or
mono-oriented film or cast film. Generally, the function of the outer layer is
to
provide the packaging with a desired mechanical strength. It will be
appreciated, that many other polymeric materials to those mentioned above,
may be used.
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The inner layer may for example be made of polyethylene, PVDC
coated materials, polypropylene cast with a variety of additives, e.g. an
additive
which confers anti-fog properties, or U.V. filters, fungicides, etc.
The invention also provides a method for handling and
5 distributing fresh agricultural produce or of increasing shelf life thereof.
The
method comprises:
(a) providing a packaging as defined above;
(b) introducing the fresh agricultural produce into said packaging;
ana
(c) closing the packaging.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, there is
provided a method for increasing shelf life of fresh agricultural produce,
comprising steps as defined above.
The invention will now be illustrated in a non-limiting manner,
with respect to the specific embodiments described below with reference to the
annexed drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. I shows a packaging having slanted walls in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention, containing small spherical fruits, e.g. cherry
tomatoes.
Fig. 2 shows a container similar to Fig. 1, formed with openings both at
its base and side wall, with the contents removed for the sake of clarity of
illustration.
Fig. 3 shows a container in accordance with another embodiment,
formed into a box-like shape.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
Reference is first being made to Fig. 1, showing a packaging in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention designated 20 containing
fruits 22, e.g. cherry tomatoes. The packaging has a rectangular base 24 and
has
front and rear faces 26 and 28 which converge from the base towards the
top 30, and has two triangular side walls 32 and 34. The container, in the
form
seen in Fig. 1, is constructed in a manner disclosed in PCT Application,
Publication No. WO 96/10524, the contents of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
Typically, the fruits 22 fill the interior space to a level which is
about two-thirds of the height of the container leaving an empty space at the
top designated 36.
The walls of the container are made of a laminated polymeric
material, typically a flexible film. A specific example of a film is such
where
the external layer is polyester, and the internal layer is made of a
polypropylene
cast, with an anti-fog additive.
The top end of the container may be closed by heat sealing or by
a suitable sticker, by a zip-type closure, etc., as known per se.
Another embodiment of the invention can be seen in Fig. 2. The
packaging 40 of this embodiment, is similar in structure to that shown in Fig.
1,
with the difference being the addition of several openings 42, four in this
specific example, in the base of the packaging and several openings 44, two in
this specific example at each of the front and rear face of the packaging. It
should be noted, that the packaging is formed with a skirt 46 projecting
downward from the base 50 thereof, thus ensuring some clearance between the
base 50 and the surface on which the packaging may be placed thus allowing
some egress of air, even when the packaging is situated on a surface. The
openings 44 formed in the front and rear faces, are typically at a height
above
the vertical mid line of the container, e.g. at a two-third of the
paclcaging's
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height. This allows accommodation of at least smooth gases emitted from the
produce within the packaging, at least at its upper portion, that above the
openings 44. The top end of the container may be closed by heat sealing or by
a
suitable sticker, by a zip-type closure, etc., as known per se.
Another embodiment of the invention can be seen in Fig. 3. The
packaging 60 according to this embodiment, has an essentially rectangular,
box-like shape, and is essentially similar in structure to the packaging shown
in
Figs. l and 2, with the difference is that the front and rear faces 62 and 64,
are
not converging as in Figs. 1 and 2, but rather the opening is closed by a lid
68.
IO Here again, the packaging may be constructed as described in PCT
Application
WO 96/10524. Packaging 60, similarly as container 40 of Fig. 2, has several
openings 70, two in this specific example, in the base 72 of the container,
and
several openings 74, two in this specific example, in each of the front and
rear
faces 62 and 64.
15 In order to package fresh agricultural produce in packaging
according to the above described embodiments (as well as others), the
packaging is first formed with an open top, the produce are then introduced
therein and thereafter the packaging is closed, for example, by welding the
top
of faces 26 and 28 to one another or,attaching them to one another by suitable
20 adhesive means, etc., in the case of the embodiments of Figs. I and 2, or
by
closing the opening with a lid 68 in the case of the embodiment of Fig. 3 .
The packaging of the invention, in the above shown embodiments
and many other embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims,
have the advantage of increasing the shelf life of fresh agricultural produce
as
25 compared to such produce packaged in prior art packagings. Furthermore, the
packaging of the invention, in addition to allowing easy handling and
transport
of the fresh agricultural produce, allows also for a handsome display of the
produce to consumers.
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An artisan will have no difficulty in understanding that the
polymeric material of which the packaging is manufactured may be a laminated
or non-laminated or co-extruded material. Furthermore, the polymeric material
formed by any of the abovementioned methods may comprise one or more
additives selected from a large variety of such additives, e.g. anti-fog
additives,
fungicides, U.V. filtering additives, slip agents, etc. It should further be
realized that in case of a laminate, either of the laminated materials may be
made of a variety of polymeric materials, e.g. polypropylene, polyethylene,
PVDC coated materials, etc. Furthermore, the packaging may have opaque or
non-transparent portions. As mentioned hereinabove, the packaging may be
flexible or may be rigid with flexible portions or may be entirely rigid.
