Disclosed in certain embodiments are systems and methods for prolonging the shelf life of produce. The following presents a simplified summary of various aspects of the present disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the disclosure, nor delineate any scope of the particular embodiments of the disclosure or any scope of the claims. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

A decorative tree storage container including an enclosure having a proximal end, a distal end, and an underside surface, is provided, and described. The storage container can be sized to hold a decorative tree, and can include one or more wheels coupled to the enclosure and positioned at a wheel location between the proximal end and the distal end that increases the clearance between the underside surface of the enclosure and a supporting surface when a decorative tree is in the enclosure and a user is lifting the proximal end by the handle.

Container for aquatic plants, which can be filled with water, the side walls and bottom of which comprise an outer wall and a bottom wall, respectively, in each instance, followed, toward the interior of the container, by an intermediate layer that consists of an insulating material. On the inside of the container, the insulating material is completely covered with a water-tight plastic film, in the manner of a tub, or by a water-tight basin composed of transparent glass. On the bottom of the tub or of the basin and/or in a plant pot situated in the container, there is a plant culture medium that makes growth of aquatic plants possible, and preferably winter-hardy and/or non-winter-hardy aquatic plants are disposed in the container, which is filled with water.

Container for aquatic plants, which can be filled with water, the side walls and bottom of which comprise an outer wall and a bottom wall, respectively, in each instance, followed, toward the interior of the container, by an intermediate layer that consists of an insulating material. On the inside of the container, the insulating material is completely covered with a water-tight plastic film, in the manner of a tub, or by a water-tight basin composed of transparent glass. On the bottom of the tub or of the basin and/or in a plant pot situated in the container, there is a plant culture medium that makes growth of aquatic plants possible, and preferably winter-hardy and/or non-winter-hardy aquatic plants are disposed in the container, which is filled with water.

A tamper-evident container comprising a vessel and a barrier that together enclose an interior space. The barrier has a marking chamber at least partially filled with a marking substance, such that when a product is inserted into the tamper-evident container through the barrier and passes through the marking chamber, the marking substance is applied to the product's surface. The presence of the marking substance on the product can indicate that it is the original product inserted into the tamper-evident container, while the absence of the marking substance on a product removed from the tamper-evident container can indicate that the original product has been replaced in the tamper-evident container with a substitute.

The invention relates to a container for containing a living organism, a docking station for docking the container, and a transportation system comprising the container and the docking station. The container comprises a docking for docking the container to a docking station. The docking station comprises a light emitter. The container comprises light-guiding means for guiding at least part of the light emitted by the light emitter to the living organism. The effect of the measures according to the invention is that the light required for illuminating the living organism is generated by the light emitter of the docking station. As a result, no light emitters are necessary in the container according to the invention which reduces the cost of the container.

The invention relates to a container for containing a living organism, a docking station for docking the container, and a transportation system comprising the container and the docking station. The container comprises a docking for docking the container to a docking station. The docking station comprises a light emitter. The container comprises light-guiding means for guiding at least part of the light emitted by the light emitter to the living organism. The effect of the measures according to the invention is that the light required for illuminating the living organism is generated by the light emitter of the docking station. As a result, no light emitters are necessary in the container according to the invention which reduces the cost of the container.

A die cut tray insert is provided including a first face and a second face, opposite and parallel to the first face; first and second assemblies secured at one end to one of the first and second faces and configured to swing between an open position and a closed position such that a pot associated with a live sample is secured on two sides; and a third face and a fourth face, perpendicular to the first and second faces and opposite and parallel to one another, the third face configured to cover a top portion of the pot associated with the live sample and the fourth face configured to contain the pot within the first, second and third faces. The third face covering the top portion of the pot is configured to reduce spillage from the pot when the first and second assemblies are in a closed position.

A die cut tray insert is provided including a first face and a second face, opposite and parallel to the first face; first and second assemblies secured at one end to one of the first and second faces and configured to swing between an open position and a closed position such that a pot associated with a live sample is secured on two sides; and a third face and a fourth face, perpendicular to the first and second faces and opposite and parallel to one another, the third face configured to cover a top portion of the pot associated with the live sample and the fourth face configured to contain the pot within the first, second and third faces. The third face covering the top portion of the pot is configured to reduce spillage from the pot when the first and second assemblies are in a closed position.

A plantlet holder (25) is formed of nutrient solution-absorbing, open celled, phenolic foam, with an upper handling portion (55), an insertion well (60) for a plantlet and a lower portion (56) adapted to laterally locate in a ring (30) in a work stand (24), the handling portion (55) adapted to be frictionally gripped for robotic or manual handling. Robotic handling apparatus includes a pair of plantlet holder gripper manipulator arms (40) adapted to engage the handling portion (55) for movement of a plantlet holder (25) between a material source portion, an operator work portion (14), and a material delivery portion. The operator work portion (14) is characterised by the work stands (24) locating the plantlet holders vertically by a step portion (32).