Method and apparatus for packing and bi-directional cooling of produce

Abstract

Method for improved packing and cooling of produce. According to the present invention, baskets for the packing of fruit are provided with ventilation channels disposed upon a lower surface of the basket. Vent apertures communicate between the ventilation channels and the produce stored in the baskets. Upper vents are formed on four sides of an upper portion of the baskets. After packing the baskets with produce, they are loaded into trays. The trays may be provided with tray vents that align with the ventilation channels. Alternatively, the trays may be formed without tray vents to improve some cooling regimes. In this manner, entire pallets of produce-filled baskets, oriented in either the 'X' or 'Y' directions can be efficiently chilled by introducing a flow of cooling air into the baskets and thence through the produce packed inside, regardless of the orientation of the trays. The trays and baskets are sized so as to occupy all of the surface area of a standard shipping pallet, and to minimize the movement of the baskets within the trays, and of the trays with respect to one another.

Description

field of invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an improved method for improving the packaging, cooling, storage and transportation of agricultural products. Specifically, the present invention directs a stream of cooled air into an improved container system including fruit containers that are evacuated and mounted in an improved rack structure and is operatively combined with the bracket. More specifically, the present invention enables cooling airflow to flow in more than one direction relative to the container system. Background technique

[0002] Many produce is harvested in the field and packaged in multiple containers that are ultimately purchased by consumers. The aforementioned agricultural products may include, for example, tomatoes, berries, grapes, mushrooms, radishes, and cauliflower, but are not limited thereto. Many agricultural products require post-harvest cooling in order to be transported over long distances and to extend storage life. [000...

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