Packaging and method for plant matter

Abstract

Described is a packaging, and method and system for packaging an individual and single serving of plant matter, such as a cannabis flower. Also described are a method of making and using for the packaging.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]Plant matter harvested for human or animal consumption is susceptible to natural decay over time, and especially susceptible to degradation or deterioration when exposed to environmental factors such as air, oxygen, humidity, UV light, or increased temperatures that can exacerbate the degradation or deterioration of the harvested plant matter. Degradation or deterioration of fresh plant matter includes changes to its appearance, as well as changes to its content, e.g., loss of nutritional value or production of compounds that can affect its color, aroma, flavor, or use. The changes can result in rejection of the product by the consumer, and lead to overall waste, and economic loss to the seller. Degradation or deterioration of fresh plant matter has been a perennial problem in the food industry, e.g., fresh produce markets.[0002]The appearance, flavor, texture, and crispness, and overall quality of fresh fruit rapidly deteriorates particularly when t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]The present invention pertains to a method and system for packaging and storing fresh plant matter, which can advantageously preserve the plant matter by reducing the rate of its degradation or deterioration, e.g., its quality or appearance following harvesting, processing, and packaging, thereby extending the shelf life of the fresh plant matter product. The subject invention also includes a packaged product containing fresh plant matter. The method of the subject invention is described herein as relating to a cannab

Problems solved by technology

Plant matter harvested for human or animal consumption is susceptible to natural decay over time, and especially susceptible to degradation or deterioration when exposed to environmental factors such as air, oxygen, humidity, UV light, or increased temperatures that can exacerbate the degradation or deterioration of the harvested plant matter.

The changes can result in rejection of the product by the consumer, and lead to overall waste, and economic loss to the seller.

Degradation or deterioration of fresh plant matter has been a perennial problem in the food industry, e.g., fresh produce markets.

The appearance, flavor, texture, and crispness, and overall quality of fresh fruit rapidly deteriorates particularly when the flesh of the fruit is exposed, such as by peeling the skin or by slicing the fruit.

Even citrus fruit, with a relatively higher content of citric acid—a natural preservative—can lose freshness within a short period of time when sliced and exposed to the air at room temperature or even below room temperature, e.g., refrigerated or stored on ice.

However, the appearance, texture, aroma, cannabinoid and terpene concentrations, and overall quality of a freshly harvested cannabis flower, is particularly prone to rapid deterioration following harvest of the plant, as the cannabinoid biosynthetic pathways are disrupted.

Storage of cannabis flowers in open containers or sealed containers that permit oxidative deterioration and the risk of fungal contamination is insufficient to prevent the degrada

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