Method of transporting or storing perishable produce

Abstract

The invention allows cool rooms or sea containers designed for frozen goods to handle produce requiring more precisely controlled temperatures and conditions, e.g., vegetables and fruits requiring temperatures in the chilling range and often also needing control or modification of the atmosphere. Each load of produce ( ) (e.g. of pallet size) is held in the sea container or cool room but is sealed from the air of the refrigerated environment by, for example, a plastics bag ( ). The atmosphere within the bag is then circulated by a fan ( ) (or by convection currents from a heating element) so as to pass through the load and around it via ducts ( ) provided adjacent the bag ( ). Heat exchange ( ) between the circulating gas and the refrigerated environment, via the plastics film, serves to cool the load. However, if cooling is excessive a heating element can be used to raise the temperature of the circulating atmosphere. Gas composition of the atmosphere can be controlled by scrubbing, flushing, etc. via pipes from a central unit or at each load individually or by choosing semi-permeable plastic for the sealing bags.