Process for ripening bananas and other produce
First Claim
1. A method for uniformly controlling the ripening of bananas and other perishable products from harvest to delivery, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a combination shipping and ripening container having an internal volume capable of receiving and maintaining a controlled atmosphere of low oxygen content;
loading freshly harvested, unripened perishable products into said container;
cooling the loaded products to a holding temperature in a range of from about 57°
to about 67°
F.;
stabilizing the products at said holding temperature;
exposing said loaded products at said holding temperature to ethylene in order to uniformly initiate ripening of all of said loaded products in said container;
continuing ripening while displacing a portion of the existing atmosphere from said internal volume with a controlled atmosphere of a low oxygen content of approximately 5%, while sustaining a minimum ethylene level sufficient to support said continued ripening;
maintaining said low oxygen controlled atmosphere within said container during storage, transportation and delivery procedures;
returning the atmosphere within said container to normal atmospheric conditions; and
unloading ripe products from said container as desired.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for uniformly controlling the ripening of bananas and other perishable products from harvest to delivery, wherein a combination shipping and ripening container having an internal volume capable of receiving and maintaining a controlled atmosphere is provided. Freshly harvested, unripened perishable products are loaded into the container and cooled to a holding temperature in a range of from about 57° to about 70° F. Once the products are stabilized at the desired holding temperature, a controlled atmosphere including ethylene is preferably substantially immediately provided to the internal volume to uniformly initiate ripening of all of the loaded products. Once ripening has been initiated, the ethylene is reduced within the internal volume by displacement with a low oxygen controlled atmosphere, which is maintained within the container during storage, transportation, and delivery procedures. Prior to unloading the ripened products from the container, the atmosphere within the internal volume is returned to normal conditions. Once the loaded products have been stabilized at the desired holding temperature and exposed to the ethylene atmosphere to initiate ripening procedures, adjustments to the controlled atmosphere and temperature within the internal volume can be utilized to "tune" the ripening process as desired to provide ripened products for delivery within a range of timing schedules.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for uniformly controlling the ripening of bananas and other perishable products from harvest to delivery, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a combination shipping and ripening container having an internal volume capable of receiving and maintaining a controlled atmosphere of low oxygen content; loading freshly harvested, unripened perishable products into said container; cooling the loaded products to a holding temperature in a range of from about 57°
to about 67°
F.;stabilizing the products at said holding temperature; exposing said loaded products at said holding temperature to ethylene in order to uniformly initiate ripening of all of said loaded products in said container; continuing ripening while displacing a portion of the existing atmosphere from said internal volume with a controlled atmosphere of a low oxygen content of approximately 5%, while sustaining a minimum ethylene level sufficient to support said continued ripening; maintaining said low oxygen controlled atmosphere within said container during storage, transportation and delivery procedures; returning the atmosphere within said container to normal atmospheric conditions; and unloading ripe products from said container as desired. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for uniformly controlling the ripening of bananas and other perishable products from harvest to delivery, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a combination shipping and ripening container having an internal volume capable of receiving and maintaining a controlled atmosphere of low oxygen content; loading freshly harvested, unripened perishable products into said internal volume of a container; immediately cooling the loaded products to a holding temperature of from about 58°
to about 60°
F.;sealing the loaded container; stabilizing the products at said holding temperature; exposing said loaded products at said holding temperature to ethylene in order to uniformly initiate ripening of all of said loaded products in said container; continuing ripening while displacing a portion of the existing atmosphere therewithin with a controlled atmosphere of a low oxygen content of approximately 5%, while sustaining a minimum ethylene level sufficient to support said continued ripening; maintaining said low oxygen controlled atmosphere within said container during storage, transportation and delivery procedures; returning the atmosphere within said container to normal atmospheric conditions; and unloading ripe products from said container as desired. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for uniformly controlling the ripening of bananas and other perishable products from harvest to delivery in a shipping container, wherein said loaded products need be handled only during initial loading of fresh harvested products, and unloading of ripe products, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a combination shipping and ripening container having an internal volume capable of receiving and maintaining a controlled atmosphere of low oxygen content; loading freshly harvested, unripened perishable products into said internal volume of a container; immediately cooling the loaded products to a holding temperature of from about 58°
to about 60°
F.;sealing the loaded container; stabilizing the products at said holding temperature; exposing said loaded products at said holding temperature to ethylene in order to uniformly initiate ripening of all of said loaded products in said container; continuing ripening while displacing a portion of the existing atmosphere therewithin with a controlled atmosphere of a low oxygen content of approximately 5%, while sustaining a minimum ethylene level sufficient to support said continued ripening; maintaining said low oxygen controlled atmosphere within said container during storage, transportation and delivery procedures; returning the atmosphere within said container to normal atmospheric conditions; and unloading ripe products from said container as desired. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification