The present disclosure relates to methods and devices for controlling arthropods, including insects and arachnids in an environment. The methods generally comprise: generating a near-ideal gas Purified Hydrogen Peroxide Gas (PHPG) that is substantially non-hydrated (e.g., in the form of water in solution or water in solution or water molecules bonded by covalence, van der Waals forces, or London forces) and substantially free of, e.g., ozone, plasma species, and/or organic species; and directing the gas comprising primarily PHPG into the environment such that the PHPG acts to control arachnids in the environment. In certain aspects, the arachnids may be totally or partially killed.

A shaker/dispenser dispenses crushed chip particles of discrete sizes for sprinkling directly on food as pourable condiments of discrete sized particles of the remnants of the crushed potato chips. Each potato chip of pre-determined thickness is crushed and crumbed into fine, medium and coarse crumbs of varying particle sizes. The chip crumb particles have a variety of flavors, salt and vinegar, cheese and onion, sour cream and chives, eggs and bacon, etc. The system provides selected potato chip condiments in sliced components for crushing and forming the particles of the desired sizes. In an alternate embodiment, the condiments are packaged in either a self-opening single use pouch or in a shaker/dispenser with a mill lid.

A freshness maintenance system includes a freshness detection unit that detects the freshness of an agricultural product by detecting ethylene gas, and a maturation suppression unit that irradiates light having a sterilizing effect or generates an electromagnetic wave. A processing unit of the freshness maintenance system controls the maturation suppression unit based on the freshness detected by the freshness detection unit to suppress the freshness of the agricultural product.

Food preservation can include depositing dry ice and food within packaging. The packaging can include a flexible liner defining a wall aperture and an internal chamber. The internal chamber can receive the deposited dry ice and food and have an internal atmosphere. The packaging can include a check valve mounted to the flexible liner and covering the wall aperture. The check valve can be configured to occupy: (i) a closed state blocking fluid communication between the internal chamber and ambient via the wall aperture and (ii) an open state enabling fluid flow from the internal chamber, through the wall aperture, and into ambient.

Tarpless fumigation and powered aeration of containerized cargo within a shipping container are disclosed. A portable fumigation containment door is installed in covering relation with main rear opening of a standard cargo container. The door is adapted with a fumigant diffuser for dispersing fumigant within the container. A recirculating fan disperses and circulates fumigant within the shipping container. Powered aeration is used to aerate the container through ports in the containment door by drawing fumigant laden air from the container while drawing in ambient air, while the container refrigeration unit is used to maintain a desired temperature.

Tarpless fumigation and powered aeration of containerized cargo within a shipping container are disclosed. A portable fumigation containment door is installed in covering relation with main rear opening of a standard cargo container. The door is adapted with a fumigant diffuser for dispersing fumigant within the container. A recirculating fan disperses and circulates fumigant within the shipping container. Powered aeration is used to aerate the container through ports in the containment door by drawing fumigant laden air from the container while drawing in ambient air, while the container refrigeration unit is used to maintain a desired temperature.

Device and method suitable for disinfecting herbs using plasma are disclosed. The device comprises a chamber and two sets of electrodes in an opposed position one relative to the other, inside the chamber. Each electrode in one set has a counterpart electrode in the other set, the two electrodes positioned facing each other and being configured to connect to a RF HV power supply, to produce a plasma-generating EM field in the space between the electrodes. The device further comprises a dielectric carrier positioned inside the chamber in the space between the two sets of electrodes, the carrier being dimensioned and configured to carry herbs in granular form such as powder or particles thereon. A portable sealable container comprising a unidirectional valve is also disclosed, configured to store herbs thereinside during plasma treatment in the device, and to store the disinfected herbs after treatment under vacuum. A device for disinfecting herbs by evaporating a disinfection agent in an evacuated chamber is also disclosed where plasma is used in any of several methods to enhance, improve and expedite the disinfection process.

A system for applying a gaseous biocide to a foodstuff, comprising: a treatment chamber having a vapor partitioning passage in which biocide is applied to the foodstuff; a conveyor extending from a first location outside the treatment chamber for conveying the foodstuff, through a first aperture in a wall of the treatment chamber, through the vapor partitioning passage, through a second aperture in a wall of the treatment chamber, and terminating at a second location outside the treatment chamber; an air distribution system supplying air into the treatment chamber, and an air extraction system through which air and remaining biocide is drawn from the treatment chamber. Pressure within the treatment chamber is maintained lower than outside the treatment chamber and lower than within the vapor partitioning passage, whereby air drawn into the treatment chamber is directed away from the vapor partitioning passage and gaseous biocide is prevented from exiting.

Methods and systems are provided for infusing a crystalline and/or porous solid with a desired fluid, particularly an antimicrobial agent, as well as infused crystalline and/or porous solids produced thereby. Solids which may be infused with an antimicrobial agent according to the invention include erythritol, table salt, table sugar, baking soda, calcium carbonate, acetic acid, ascorbic acid, and marshmallow.