The protection process comprises transporting vegetable products (1) in an enclosure (3), a phyto-protective treatment being applied simultaneously by placing a quantity of a porous mineral or vegetable material (5) inside said enclosure (3), in which a liquid containing an essential oil or a constituent of an essential oil is absorbed; the porous mineral or vegetable material (5) having a liquid absorption capacity of between 5% and 30% by weight at 20° C.; the evaporation rate of the liquid absorbed in the porous mineral or vegetable material (5) being between 10 and 200 g per day and per kg of absorbed liquid at a temperature suitable for the preservation of the vegetable products and at atmospheric pressure; the porous mineral or vegetable material (5) being arranged inside at least one openwork container (7) allowing an internal atmosphere of the enclosure (3) to circulate through the openwork container (7) in contact with the porous mineral or vegetable material (5).

The present disclosure provides for, and includes, environments for the production, transport and storage of agricultural products including, but not limited to, fruits, vegetables, grains, tubers, decorative plants, flowers and mushrooms. The present disclosure also relates to methods of preparing environments for the preservation and production of agricultural products Also provided are organic agricultural products having reduced levels of microorganisms and residual organic compounds.

The present disclosure provides for, and includes, environments for the production, transport and storage of agricultural products including, but not limited to, fruits, vegetables, grains, tubers, decorative plants, flowers and mushrooms. The present disclosure also relates to methods of preparing environments for the preservation and production of agricultural products Also provided are organic agricultural products having reduced levels of microorganisms and residual organic compounds.

A method of storing potatoes, the method comprising the steps of: i. providing a plurality of dormant potatoes, wherein the potatoes have been cured after harvesting; ii. treating the potatoes with 1-methylcyclopropene, the treatment comprising exposing the potatoes, which are at a first treatment temperature within the range of from 10 to 30° C., to 1-methylcyclopropene; storing the potatoes at a second storage temperature within the range of from greater than 1 to up to 6° C. for a storage period within a potato store, wherein the storage period extends continuously until at least 1 week after initiation of eye movement in at least one of the potatoes, and wherein during the storage period the potatoes are stored in atmospheric air free of an external supply of ethylene sprout suppressant.

A method of storing potatoes, the method comprising the steps of: i. providing a plurality of dormant potatoes, wherein the potatoes have been cured after harvesting; ii. treating the potatoes with 1-methylcyclopropene, the treatment comprising exposing the potatoes, which are at a first treatment temperature within the range of from 10 to 30° C., to 1-methylcyclopropene; storing the potatoes at a second storage temperature within the range of from greater than 1 to up to 6° C. for a storage period within a potato store, wherein the storage period extends continuously until at least 1 week after initiation of eye movement in at least one of the potatoes, and wherein during the storage period the potatoes are stored in atmospheric air free of an external supply of ethylene sprout suppressant.

An apparatus for treating the atmosphere of a storage space for vegetable products with a volume greater than 200 m.sup.3, includes a contacting device having a packing; an injector configured to inject a liquid flow into the contacting device; and a circulator configured to circulate the storage atmosphere in the contacting device. The contacting device is configured such that the storage atmosphere is brought into contact with the liquid flow by circulation in the packing.

An apparatus for treating the atmosphere of a storage space for vegetable products with a volume greater than 200 m.sup.3, includes a contacting device having a packing; an injector configured to inject a liquid flow into the contacting device; and a circulator configured to circulate the storage atmosphere in the contacting device. The contacting device is configured such that the storage atmosphere is brought into contact with the liquid flow by circulation in the packing.

Methods of controlling the maturation of plants and/or plant products (e.g. fruit, vegetable, ornamentals, etc.) by manipulating Alternative Oxidase (AOX) activity. An increase in activity hastens the maturation process while a decrease in activity slows or stops maturation.

Methods of controlling the maturation of plants and/or plant products (e.g. fruit, vegetable, ornamentals, etc.) by manipulating Alternative Oxidase (AOX) activity. An increase in activity hastens the maturation process while a decrease in activity slows or stops maturation.

Providing a method for generating and releasing 1-MCP gas from a complex carrier through the use of a 1-MCP generator that enables the application of at least one physical, releasing force to a carrier complex and/or mixture comprising water and the carrier complex, or the interaction of steam with a carrier complex and/or mixture comprising water and the carrier complex, over a determined period of time.