Systems and methods for treating large quantities of potatoes, other tubers, vegetables, produce, and/or other crops are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a crop storage facility configured in accordance with the present technology includes a treatment system configured to distribute a treatment agent configured to inhibit spoilage of the crops. The treatment system can include a combination of two or more chemical compositions configured to release different concentrations of the treatment agent to produce a desired level of the treatment agent in the storage facility.

A method for designing a new product includes automatically identifying a plurality of components of stored products, wherein the plurality of components is associated with an existing component included in a design of the new product, automatically selecting a new component from among the plurality of components, wherein a relationship between the existing component and the new component optimizes a design objective for the new product, automatically adding the new component to the design for the new product, and iteratively repeating the identifying, the selecting, and the adding until a stopping criterion is met, wherein the design for the new product is complete when the stopping criterion is met.

A method for designing a new product includes automatically identifying a plurality of components of stored products, wherein the plurality of components is associated with an existing component included in a design of the new product, automatically selecting a new component from among the plurality of components, wherein a relationship between the existing component and the new component optimizes a design objective for the new product, automatically adding the new component to the design for the new product, and iteratively repeating the identifying, the selecting, and the adding until a stopping criterion is met, wherein the design for the new product is complete when the stopping criterion is met.

A method for designing a new product includes automatically identifying a plurality of components of stored products, wherein the plurality of components is associated with an existing component included in a design of the new product, automatically selecting a new component from among the plurality of components, wherein a relationship between the existing component and the new component optimizes a design objective for the new product, automatically adding the new component to the design for the new product, and iteratively repeating the identifying, the selecting, and the adding until a stopping criterion is met, wherein the design for the new product is complete when the stopping criterion is met.

The present invention aims at dissolving hydrogen gas in a liquid and maintaining the solubility of the hydrogen gas in the liquid at a high state. A sealing bag 1 that dissolves hydrogen gas in a liquid by being put into the liquid includes a hydrogen permeable film that can permeate hydrogen gas that is sealed and filled in the sealing bag to outside. By sinking this sealing bag 1 into the liquid in advance, the hydrogen gas that is permeated through the hydrogen permeable film is dissolved in the liquid. Furthermore, since the hydrogen gas is continuously permeated little by little through the hydrogen permeable film, the solubility of the hydrogen in the liquid can be maintained at a high state.

A method for designing a new product includes automatically identifying a plurality of components of stored products, wherein the plurality of components is associated with an existing component included in a design of the new product, automatically selecting a new component from among the plurality of components, wherein a relationship between the existing component and the new component optimizes a design objective for the new product, automatically adding the new component to the design for the new product, and iteratively repeating the identifying, the selecting, and the adding until a stopping criterion is met, wherein the design for the new product is complete when the stopping criterion is met.

A method for controlling the concentration of a gas in a crisper drawer (100): by capturing the concentration of a freshness-preserving gas in a storage chamber (10) and comparing with a preset threshold, determining whether to feed the freshness-preserving gas into the storage chamber (10), or employing a timed feeding method to control whether to feed the freshness-preserving gas into the storage chamber (10). The method selectively feeds the fresh-preserving gas into the storage chamber (10), thus controlling the concentration of the freshness-preserving gas in the storage chamber (10) to be kept above a target concentration, significantly extending the time during which food is kept fresh, and at the same time, taking into consideration the economy of using the freshness-preserving gas.

Disclosed is an apparatus for inactivating bacteria and/or reducing microbial count on a food product or a container therefore, which is susceptible to surface and sub-surface microbial presence is provided, said apparatus comprising a sealable chamber which is operably connected to i) an ozone generator for generating ozone gas, and ii) an evacuation fan for forcing movement of ozone gas through the sealable chamber. Also disclosed is a method for inactivating bacteria and/or reducing microbial count on a food product or a container therefore, which is susceptible to surface and sub-surface microbial presence is provided, said method comprising a) providing a plurality of said food product or container in a sealable chamber which is operably connected to i) an ozone generator for generating ozone gas, and ii) an evacuation fan for forcing movement of ozone gas vertically through the sealable chamber; b) creating condensation on surface of the food product or container by adjusting humidity in the sealable chamber to reach a predetermined humidity; c) operating the ozone generator and the evacuation fan to generate a predetermined exhaust air velocity to pass ozone gas generated by the ozone generator through the sealable chamber for a predetermined period of dwell time; and d) expelling ozone gas from the sealable chamber. The present invention further provides for a method for reducing a level of bacteria, yeast, mold and mildew in or on a container.

Technologies for providing a gas inlet and gas outlet to a compartment are described. In embodiments, the technologies include a dual channel connector unit that includes an inlet passageway and an outlet passageway. In embodiments at least a portion of the outlet passageway is disposed radially around the inlet passageway. The connector unit is configured to install into a portion (e.g., wall, bottom, top, or lid) of a compartment. Systems and methods including such connector units are also described.

Disclosed are methods of thermal fogging that include dispensing a predetermined amount of an agricultural formulation from a cartridge, wherein the agricultural formulation has a viscosity of greater than about 500 cP at room temperature; using an inline heater to heat the predetermined amount of the agricultural formulation to a predetermined temperature, wherein the agricultural formulation has a viscosity of less than about 400 cP at or above 140 degrees Fahrenheit; and aerosolizing the agricultural formulation with a thermal fogging apparatus. Also disclosed are systems for carrying out the methods, as well as cartridges for use in the disclosed systems.