CONTAINER FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE

Abstract: A packaging for increasing life time during storage, shipment or both, of fresh agricultural produce, made of a polymeric material having one or more additives.

Description: 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 fruit 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. 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. 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. 4 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. 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 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; and (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. 1 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. 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 fonned 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 packaging's 7 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. 1 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. 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. 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 adhesive means, etc., in the case of the embodiments of Figs. 1 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 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. 8 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.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A packaging 20 for storage, shipment or both, of fresh agricultural produce 22, made of a polymeric material having one or more additives. 2. A packaging for storage, shipment or both of fresh agricultural produce, made essentially of a laminated polymeric material comprising at least two layers, of which the internal layer comprises a polymeric material with one or more additives. 3. 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. 4. A packaging for storage, shipment or both of fresh agricultural produce 22, made essentially of a polymeric material, designed such that gases emitted by the produce accumulate within the package, in at least an upper portion 36 thereof above the produce 22. 5. A packaging for storage, shipment or both of fresh agricultural produce, made essentially of a polymeric material, comprising one or more openings 42:44 for airation of the produce. 6. A packaging 40 according to Claim 4, having one or more openings 42 at a base 50 thereof, and one or more openings 44 formed at a mid or upper portion of the side wall 26:28 of the container. 7. 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 32:34, converge from a wide base towards a narrow top portion 36 thus defining a structure with slanted walls. 8. A packaging according to Claim 1, wherein the polymeric material is a flexible film which is transparent or opaque over major portions of the surface. 10 9. A packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the polymeric material has an outer layer made of a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyester, polypropylene, cellophane, nylon and polyamide. 10. A packaging according to Claim 1, wherein the polymeric material is a laminated material having an inner layer comprising an additive having anti-fog properties. 11. A method for handling fresh agricultural produce, comprising: (a) providing a packaging according to any one of Claims 1-10, (b) introducing the fresh agricultural produce into said packaging; and (c) closing the packaging. 12. A method for increasing shelf life of fresh agricultural produce, comprising: (a) providing a packaging according to any one of Claims 1-10, (b) introducing the fresh agricultural produce into said packaging; and (c) closing the packaging.

Inventors: GELLER AVNER, GELLER, AVNER
Applicants: ATIFON LTD, GELLER AVNER, ATIFON LTD., GELLER, AVNER
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B65D33
IPC codes: B65D33, B65D81, B65D85