Other

Bennett W Brown

Richard S Brown

A packaging system for fresh produce such as fresh lettuce and like food products. The packaging system relies upon a quadrilaterally shaped, fairly rigid paperboard container having more than four corner portions therein and with an inner liner used for the storage and transport of produce, such as lettuce heads. In a preferred embodiment, the containers are octagonally shaped with four rectangularly shaped elongate walls connected at their corner portions by four relatively short angularly located connecting walls. Portions of these containers, and particularly the expensive side walls, are capable of being reused. Moreover, they are uniquely adapted for storage and transport in stacked relationship and also are designed so as to fit upon conventional pallets.

Fresh produce container system

A container system which is environmentally controlled for the packaging and shipment of vegetables, and particularly of lettuce, such as iceberg lettuce. The packaging relies upon a reusable paperboard container which is of a polygonal shape, such as an octagonal shape, providing a large number of corner margins which afford strength in stacking of like containers on pallets. A plastic liner is disposed within the paperboard container and receives the vegetables such as the heads of lettuce. This liner is evacuated through a small incision made in the liner and the liner is sealed, or the former air atmosphere is replaced with a modified atmosphere, such as a high carbon monoxide concentration or nitrogen atmosphere, and thereafter, the opening is sealed. The modified atmosphere precludes the oxidation and deterioration of the lettuce or other vegetable product. In a more preferred embodiment, a pair of plastic liners, comprising inner and outer liners, are employed. When the inner liner is filled, the pair of liners are then rolled over and sealed. A small incision is made in the inner liner in order to evacuate the air from the environment in which the lettuce is held. Thereafter, the small opening used for evacuating the air is sealed. The same procedure takes place with the second or outer liner in that it is evacuated and charged with a modified carbon monoxide or nitrogen atmosphere and the opening thereof sealed. In this way, if there is a leak in the inner liner, the lettuce or other vegetable will only be exposed to the modified carbon monoxide or nitrogen atmosphere and not oxygen which causes a very rapid deterioration of the vegetables. Leakage through the outer liner will not injure the vegetables as long as the inner liner remains secure and intact.

Method of packaging lettuce for storing and shipping

An environmentally sealed packaging system for the storage and transport of vegetables which relies upon one or more plastic bags and which may be contained in suitable paperboard containers. The plastic bags are usually of a large size and have a substantial thickness in order to withstand the rigors of transport and storage. Nevertheless, they are flexible and foldable. When produce, and particularly vegetables such as lettuce, is stored in the plastic bags, the upper ends are sealed by engaging two opposed outer side walls and rolling the two outer side walls together to form an enlarged roll. The ends of the roll are then folded inwardly and secured to the top in order to seal the opposite transverse ends. The rolling of the bags effectively seals the two sides together and with the folding of the ends the interior of the bag is then sealed. A releasable tape is then secured to the folded-in ends and to the roll in order to thereby hold the bag in a closed condition. When it is desired to reopen the bags, it is only necessary to peel the tape from the plastic bags. Various modes of tape placement are disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Chualar, CA, United States of America

Bennett W Brown