Described herein are systems and methods for ripening produce in a container during transit. The method includes maintaining, by a controller, an initial refrigerated climate in the container, detecting a first climate modification event, controlling automated vents in the container to an open state that exposes an interior of the container to an external environment until a temperature within the container increases to a predetermined temperature value, controlling, when the temperature reaches the predetermined temperature value, a ripening agent generator to inject a ripening agent into the container, continuously monitoring and controlling the ripening agent generator to maintain a target concentration of the ripening agent, detecting a second climate modification event, controlling the ripening agent generator to stop injecting the ripening agent, controlling a refrigeration unit to lower the container temperature to the initial refrigerated climate, and maintaining the initial refrigerated climate until arrival at a destination location.

Presented herein are barrier film compositions that can be used, for example, as protective coatings for plant matter (e.g., agricultural products). In some embodiments, the compositions delay moisture loss and/or decrease respiration to extend the shelf life of the plant matter. In one embodiment, the barrier film composition comprises a first component comprising a charged long chain alkyl and a second component having an opposing charge. The barrier film composition can be used to prevent or delay spoilage due to, for instance, desiccation and ripening.

Presented herein are barrier film compositions that can be used, for example, as protective coatings for plant matter (e.g., agricultural products). In some embodiments, the compositions delay moisture loss and/or decrease respiration to extend the shelf life of the plant matter. In one embodiment, the barrier film composition comprises a first component comprising a charged long chain alkyl and a second component having an opposing charge. The barrier film composition can be used to prevent or delay spoilage due to, for instance, desiccation and ripening.

Presented herein are barrier film compositions that can be used to extend the shelf life of agricultural products. The barrier film compositions can comprise a monoglyceride, a fatty acid or a salt thereof, a biopolymer, and water and have a yield stress of at least 0.1 Pa.

Presented herein are barrier film compositions that can be used to extend the shelf life of agricultural products. The barrier film compositions can comprise a monoglyceride, a fatty acid or a salt thereof, a biopolymer, and water and have a yield stress of at least 0.1 Pa.

A method of producing an aqueous solution of zein suitable for forming edible coatings includes combining zein with an alcohol-free, non-corrosive amphipathic carrier solvent (e.g., [1,3]-propanediol), and adding a surfactant (e.g., surfactin) thereto, forming a Phase I solution. The surfactant may be non-ionic or anionic as determined by the type of zein being used. The Phase I solution is combined with a Phase II aqueous solution including primarily water without alcohol to provide an aqueous coating solution of zein. A plasticizer (e.g., polyethylene glycol) or fatty acid (e.g., lauric acid) may be added to the Phase II solution to enhance the zein coating. The resulting coating solution may then be applied on food, and dried, to form an edible coating.

A method of producing an aqueous solution of zein suitable for forming edible coatings includes combining zein with an alcohol-free, non-corrosive amphipathic carrier solvent (e.g., [1,3]-propanediol), and adding a surfactant (e.g., surfactin) thereto, forming a Phase I solution. The surfactant may be non-ionic or anionic as determined by the type of zein being used. The Phase I solution is combined with a Phase II aqueous solution including primarily water without alcohol to provide an aqueous coating solution of zein. A plasticizer (e.g., polyethylene glycol) or fatty acid (e.g., lauric acid) may be added to the Phase II solution to enhance the zein coating. The resulting coating solution may then be applied on food, and dried, to form an edible coating.

This disclosure relates to laminas and uses of same, the lamina made of at least 90% w/w dried, adhered together vegetables, the lamina withstanding disintegration during storage and allowing disintegration when cooked.

Compositions for forming protective coatings on, e.g., agricultural products, can form a lamellar structure on the surface of the agricultural product that forms a barrier to, e.g., water and gas.

Compositions for forming protective coatings on, e.g., agricultural products, can form a lamellar structure on the surface of the agricultural product that forms a barrier to, e.g., water and gas.