A modular produce crate has four side panels, a base panel and abase having a quadrant of upper surface corner base connectors. Each side panel defines an interior base panel channel, a pair of side panel corner connectors extending below the channel and side panel interfacing edges above the channel. Adjacent pairs of the side panel corner connectors plug into each respective corner base connector to enclose the channels around the base panel to hold the base panel and adjacent interfacing edges thereof are fastened together. As such, the base panel is held fast by the engagement of the side panel connectors within the respective base connectors thereunderneath and by the fastened interfacing edges of the side panels thereabove.

A bag (100) suitable for packaging fruit and vegetable products (2) comprising a casing (103) capable of housing the products to be packaged and at least one first band (104) and one second band (105) each arranged on the outer face of the casing so as to seal said casing, the first band (104) being joined to the casing only at its ends (104a, 104b) forming a handle (106) and the second band (105) joined along the length thereof to the associated face of the casing, forming a stable bottom (105c). A station (1) for producing this bag (100) comprises an expansion device (4) of tubular material comprising an upper expansion body (4a) and a lower expansion body (4b) mechanically linked to each other with a capacity for movement of one with respect to the other and that cooperate with welding groups.

Produce boxes and bags for shipping produce, e.g., bananas, utilize ventilation structures that allow for ventilation therethrough. A method of assembling produce boxes provides for cutouts that serve as ventilation structures in the boxes. When the produce boxes are stacked such as on a shipping pallet, the ventilation structures allow for ventilation of through the stacked boxes. Produce may be packed in a bag, which is closed with a rip cord and inserted into a produce box. The rip cord may be accessed when the box is in a stack such as on a shipping pallet, such that the rip cord may be pulled thereby opening the bag, without removing the box from the stack.

This invention relates to a unique food preservation system that is used to extend the shelf life of food items by automatically modulating the gas composition within an air-tight container to the optimal atmospheric conditions for the specific food item(s) being stored in these containers. In order to extend the shelf life of food items, the optimal levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen must be maintained within the food storage container at all times. This is accomplished by constant real-time monitoring of the atmosphere within the food storage container and actively as well as passively controlling the atmosphere.

A tray container includes a paper-based material having a number of sides extending from a container bottom. Each side has a proximal end that is contiguous with the container bottom and a distal end that is configured to fold into a bonding surface and a reinforced portion. The bonding surface and the reinforced portion each include two layers of the container material. The tray container has a perimeter bonding surface that includes each bonding surface of the container sides. A support ring is attached to the perimeter bonding surface, defining a cover bonding surface to which a film or mesh cover may be bonded.

A packaging device incorporating a breathable peel/reseal film and enabling a preservation process for allowing for the distribution, storage and multiple servings of a food product, particularly perishable food product(s), and initiating and controlling the transmission rates, respiration rates or deterioration of the perishable food product(s) and thereby, maintaining good internal and external food quality and normal development of flavor and aroma characteristics. The packaging device includes a plurality of atmospheric control attributes that modulates or controls the atmosphere within the packaging device as the food product(s) respire in order to promote the extended shelf-life of the food product and the maintenance of the quality and desirable marketable characteristics of the food product. The atmospheric control attributes can include perforations that may be positioned in breathable peel/reseal film portion of the package to allow the product respiration for multiple servings without substantially altering the shelf life extension properties of the packaging device.

A packaging device incorporating a breathable peel/reseal film and enabling a preservation process for allowing for the distribution, storage and multiple servings of a food product, particularly perishable food product(s), and initiating and controlling the transmission rates, respiration rates or deterioration of the perishable food product(s) and thereby, maintaining good internal and external food quality and normal development of flavor and aroma characteristics. The packaging device includes a plurality of atmospheric control attributes that modulates or controls the atmosphere within the packaging device as the food product(s) respire in order to promote the extended shelf-life of the food product and the maintenance of the quality and desirable marketable characteristics of the food product. The atmospheric control attributes can include perforations that may be positioned in breathable peel/reseal film portion of the package to allow the product respiration for multiple servings without substantially altering the shelf life extension properties of the packaging device.

Provided is a perforated plastic bag wherein the volume of said bag is 100 liters or more; wherein the average perforation diameter is 500 micrometers or less; wherein said plastic bag comprises a lower zone and a top zone, wherein the perforation density of said lower zone is greater than the perforation density of said top zone. Also provided is a method of using such a plastic bag.

A bag (100) for packaging fruit and vegetable products (2) having a casing (103) for housing the products to be packaged and at least one first band (104) and one second band (105), each arranged on the outer face of the casing so as to seal the casing, the first band (104) being joined to the casing only at its ends (104a, 104b) forming a handle (106) and the second band (105) joined along the length thereof to the associated face of the casing, forming a stable bottom (105c).

Packaging of fruits in containers. The containers preferably have designed permeabilities to oxygen, carbon dioxide, and ethylene and include a gas-permeable membrane comprising (1) a microporous film, and (2) a polymeric coating on the microporous film. The containers enable storage and/or ripening of fruits under controlled conditions. Using the new containers, fruits can be ripened while they are being transported, or in conventional ripening rooms without opening the bags in which they have been transported. In addition, fruits can be preserved in a satisfactory ripened state for longer periods of time. Methods of treating fruits with insecticides, fungicides and mold-inhibiting compounds are also disclosed.