Substrate for Producing Consumer-Ready Vegetables, Mushrooms or Herbs in a Closed Container

Abstract

Disclosed are a substrate a container and a method for producing consumer-ready vegetables, mushrooms or herbs, a method of producing the substrate, and use of the substrate for producing consumer-ready vegetables, mushrooms or herbs. The substrate comprises a polymer fiber based body having a porous structure, wherein the polymer fiber based body comprises a sowing material receiving surface for receiving sowing material of the vegetables, mushrooms or herbs, wherein the polymer fiber based body comprises polyethylene terephthalate, PET, fiber material.

Claims

1. Substrate for producing consumer-ready vegetables, mushrooms or herbs in a closed container, the substrate comprising: a polymer fiber based body having a porous structure, wherein the polymer fiber based body comprises a sowing material receiving surface for receiving sowing material of the vegetables, mushrooms or herbs, wherein the polymer fiber based body is made of only polyethylene terephthalate, PET, fiber material.

2. Substrate according to claim 1, further comprising the sowing material of the vegetables, mushrooms or herbs.

3. Substrate according to claim 2, further comprising a biocompatible adhesive provided on at least a part of a surface of the substrate, wherein at least a part of the sowing material is at least partially fixed to the sowing material receiving surface of the substrate using the biocompatible adhesive.

4. Substrate according to claim 3, further comprising a seed mat, wherein the sowing material is enclosed by, or at least partially fixed to, the seed mat.

5. Substrate according to claim 4, wherein the seed mat is fixed to the sowing material receiving surface using the biocompatible adhesive.

6. Substrate according to claim 1, wherein the polymer fiber based body is substantially sterile.

7. Substrate according to claim 1, wherein the PET fiber material has a density in the range of 5 to 40 kg/m.sup.3, preferably 10 to 20 kg/m.sup.3, more preferably 14 to 19 kg/m.sup.3.

8. Substrate according to claim 1, wherein the PET fiber material is a thermally bonded nonwoven PET fiber material.

9. Substrate according to claim 1, wherein the polymer fiber based has a thickness in the range of 0.6 to 4 cm, preferably 0.8 to 3.5 cm.

10. Container for producing consumer-ready vegetables, mushrooms or herbs, comprising the substrate according to claim 1; the sowing material of the vegetables, mushrooms or herbs provided on the sowing material receiving surface; growth medium in contact with a part of the substrate opposite the sowing material receiving surface; and a permeable membrane closing the container.

11. Container according to claim 10, wherein the permeable membrane is configured to be permeable to oxygen and carbon dioxide, and to block pathogens.

12. Method of producing a substrate for use in a closed container for producing consumer-ready vegetables, mushrooms or herbs according to claim 1, the method comprising: providing a polymer fiber based body having a porous structure, the polymer fiber based body comprising a sowing material receiving surface for receiving a sowing material of the vegetables, mushrooms or herbs, wherein the polymer fiber based body consists of polyethylene terephthalate, PET, fiber material.

13. Method according to claim 12, wherein the providing comprises sterilizing the polymer fiber based body, wherein preferably the sterilizing is performed by irradiating the polymer fiber based body with ionizing radiation.

14. Method according to claim 13, wherein the irradiating the polymer fiber based body with ionizing radiation comprises gamma ray irradiation from a cobalt 60 radioactive source, with a dose in the range of 1-25 kGy, preferably 1-10 kGy.

15. Method for producing consumer-ready vegetables, mushrooms or herbs, comprising: placing sowing material of the vegetables, mushrooms or herbs on the sowing material receiving surface of the substrate according to claim 1; providing growth medium into a container; placing the substrate into the container, wherein the substrate and growth medium are in contact; and closing the container with a permeable membrane.

16. Method according to claim 15, further comprising: sterilizing the substrate before the step of placing sowing material on the substrate.

17. Method according to claim 15, wherein the step of placing comprises providing a biocompatible adhesive layer on the substrate, and at least partially fixing the sowing material to the surface of the substrate by the biocompatible adhesive.

18. Method according to claim 15, further comprising: allowing the vegetables, mushrooms or herbs to grow in the closed container under suitable growing conditions until maturity; and transferring the container to a retail outlet.

19. Kit comprising: a container; the substrate according to claim 1; and a permeable membrane for closing the container.

20. Kit according to claim 19, comprising the sowing material of vegetables, mushrooms or herbs.

21. (canceled)

Description

[0039] The accompanying drawings are used to illustrate presently preferred non-limiting exemplary embodiments of devices of the present disclosure. The above and other advantages of the features and objects of the disclosure will become more apparent and the disclosure will be better understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0040] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container comprising a substrate according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0041] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container comprising a substrate according to FIG. 1, closed with a membrane and with a matured leafy vegetable;

[0042] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the substrate with sowing material or seeds according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0043] FIG. 4 is a cross section of the substrate of FIG. 3 as indicated therein. Container 2 comprises the substrate 1. The substrate 1 comprises a polymer fiber based body having a porous structure 32, as graphically depicted in FIG. 3. The polymer fiber based body comprises a sowing material receiving surface 8 for receiving sowing material 6 (e.g. seeds) of the vegetables, mushrooms or herbs. The polymer fiber based body of substrate 1 further comprises a growth medium uptake side 10 opposite the sowing material receiving surface 8. The growth medium uptake side 10, when the substrate is placed in the container, is in contact with an inner side of base 12 of the container 2.

[0044] Permeable membrane 4, also referred to as a semi-permeable membrane, is permeable to oxygen and carbon dioxide, but blocks pathogens and/or contaminants. In the arrangement of FIG. 1, the membrane 4 is not yet placed on the container 2. The membrane 4 may be placed on container 2, in particular on the flat rims 22 thereof, and heat bonded to the container to close the container. The closed container 2 is shown in FIG. 2.

[0045] Suitable growth medium is added to container 2 before closing the container 2. The growth medium can be added either before (preferred) or after the substrate is placed in the container. Before is preferred as the growth medium does not come into contact with the sowing material receiving surface 8, which is at the top side when in use in a standing container. The growth medium comprises water and may further comprise at least one of the ingredients from the group consisting of minerals (major salts as well as minor salts), sugars, trace elements, vitamins and amino acids.

[0046] In the closed container 2 of FIG. 2, the seeds have sprouted and grown into leafy vegetables 30, being at least partially matured. The container may be opened, the vegetables taken out, and consumed.

[0047] FIG. 3 shows a substrate 1 according to an embodiment. The substrate comprises sowing material 6 (e.g. seeds) deposited on the sowing material receiving surface 8 of the substrate 1. The substrate has a thickness t, which may be in the range of 0.6 to 4 cm. In this example, the thickness is 12 mm and the PET fiber material has a density of about 17 kg/m.sup.3. Although the size of the substrate is exaggerated in the figures, the combination of the thickness and densities, the substrate 1 has a thickness t that is less than 30% of the height h of the container 2, such that there is room for the growing plants 30. In this example h is 12 cm. The growing plants 30 in this example are frilled lettuce. The height h depends on which plants 30 or other crop are grown in the container 2.

[0048] The PET fiber material is, in an embodiment, a nonwoven PET material that is thermally bonded. Suitably, the sowing material receiving surface 8 of the substrate 1 has a surface evenness suitable for sprouting of seeds. The average pore size on the surface 8 is about 1 mm.

[0049] When growth medium is added to the container, the substrate 1 is partially submerged, with a fluid level 34 reaching a certain height of the substrate 1, as shown in FIG. 4. The growth medium is absorbed by the PET substrate 1 on the growth medium uptake side 10, and diffuses (e.g. via capillary action) upward towards the sowing material receiving surface 8 and the sowing material 6, as indicated by arrow 36, through the porous structure 36. The growth medium then reaches the seeds or other living material (e.g. roots) requiring water and optionally nutrients. The growth medium is gradually used up by the growing material, and the fluid level 34 drops. The fluid level 34 should not be too high to avoid submerging of the sowing material and/or growing crop. The amount of fluid required depends on the type of crop growing. The relative fluid level compared to the substrate can then be changed by changing the thickness t of the substrate.

[0050] The present invention is not limited to the present embodiments. The scope of protection is established by the content of the following claims within the scope of which many variations are feasible.

[0051] The disclosure further comprises the following clauses:

[0052] 1. Substrate for producing consumer-ready vegetables, mushrooms or herbs in a closed container, the substrate comprising:

[0053] a polymer fiber based body having a porous structure, wherein the polymer fiber based body comprises a sowing material receiving surface for receiving sowing material of the vegetables, mushrooms or herbs,

[0054] wherein the polymer fiber based body comprises polyethylene terephthalate, PET, fiber material.

[0055] 2. Substrate according to clause 1, further comprising the sowing material of the vegetables, mushrooms or herbs; and/or

[0056] wherein the polymer fiber based body consists of PET fiber material.

[0057] 3. Substrate according to clause 2, further comprising a biocompatible adhesive provided on at least a part of a surface of the substrate, wherein at least a part of the sowing material is at least partially fixed to the sowing material receiving surface of the substrate using the biocompatible adhesive.

[0058] 4. Substrate according to clause 3, further comprising a seed mat, wherein the sowing material is enclosed by, or at least partially fixed to, the seed mat.

[0059] 5. Substrate according to clause 4, wherein the seed mat is fixed to the sowing material receiving surface using the biocompatible adhesive.

[0060] 6. Substrate according to any one of clauses 1-5, wherein the polymer fiber based body is substantially sterile.

[0061] 7. Substrate according to any one of clauses 1-6, wherein the PET fiber material has a density in the range of 5 to 40 kg/m.sup.3, preferably 10 to 20 kg/m.sup.3, more preferably 14 to 19 kg/m.sup.3.

[0062] 8. Substrate according to any one of clauses 1-7, wherein the PET fiber material is a thermally bonded nonwoven PET fiber material.

[0063] 9. Substrate according to any one of clauses 1-8, wherein the polymer fiber based has a thickness in the range of 0.6 to 4 cm, preferably 0.8 to 3.5 cm.

[0064] 10. Container for producing consumer-ready vegetables, mushrooms or herbs, comprising the substrate according to any one of clauses 1-9;

[0065] the sowing material of the vegetables, mushrooms or herbs provided on the sowing material receiving surface;

[0066] growth medium in contact with a part of the substrate opposite the sowing material receiving surface; and

[0067] a permeable membrane closing the container.

[0068] 11. Container according to clause 10, wherein the permeable membrane is configured to be permeable to oxygen and carbon dioxide, and to block pathogens.

[0069] 12. Method of producing a substrate for use in a closed container for producing consumer-ready vegetables, mushrooms or herbs, the method comprising:

[0070] providing a polymer fiber based body having a porous structure, the polymer fiber based body comprising a sowing material receiving surface for receiving a sowing material of the vegetables, mushrooms or herbs,

[0071] wherein the polymer fiber based body comprises polyethylene terephthalate, PET, fiber material,

[0072] wherein the providing comprises sterilizing the polymer fiber based body.

[0073] 13. Method according to clause 12, wherein the sterilizing is performed by irradiating the polymer fiber based body with ionizing radiation.

[0074] 14. Method according to clause 13, wherein the irradiating the polymer fiber based body with ionizing radiation comprises gamma ray irradiation from a cobalt 60 radioactive source, with a dose in the range of 1-25 kGy, preferably 1-10 kGy.

[0075] 15. Substrate obtainable by the method according to clause 12, 13 or 14.

[0076] 16. Method for producing consumer-ready vegetables, mushrooms or herbs, comprising:

[0077] placing sowing material of the vegetables, mushrooms or herbs on the sowing material receiving surface of the substrate according to any one of clauses 1-9 and 15;

[0078] providing growth medium into a container;

[0079] placing the substrate into the container, wherein the substrate and growth medium are in contact; and

[0080] closing the container with a permeable membrane.

[0081] 17. Method according to clause 16, further comprising: sterilizing the substrate before the step of placing sowing material on the substrate.

[0082] 18. Method according to clause 16 or 17, wherein the step of placing comprises providing a biocompatible adhesive layer on the substrate, and at least partially fixing the sowing material to the surface of the substrate by the biocompatible adhesive.

[0083] 19. Method according to clause 16, 17, or 18, further comprising:

[0084] allowing the vegetables, mushrooms or herbs to grow in the closed container under suitable growing conditions until maturity; and

[0085] transferring the container to a retail outlet.

[0086] 20. Kit comprising:

[0087] a container;

[0088] the substrate according to any one of clauses 1 to 9 and 15; and

[0089] a permeable membrane for closing the container.

[0090] 21. Kit according to clause 20, comprising the sowing material of vegetables, mushrooms or herbs.

[0091] 22. Use of a substrate according to any one of clauses 1-9 and 15 for producing consumer-ready vegetables, mushrooms or herbs in a closed container.