Abstract: Produce boxes and bags for shipping produce, e.g., bananas, utilize ventilation structures that allow for ventilation therethrough. A method of assembling produce boxes provides for cutouts that serve as ventilation structures in the boxes. When the produce boxes are stacked such as on a shipping pallet, the ventilation structures allow for ventilation of through the stacked boxes. Produce may be packed in a bag, which is closed with a rip cord and inserted into a produce box. The rip cord may be accessed when the box is in a stack such as on a shipping pallet, such that the rip cord may be pulled thereby opening the bag, without removing the box from the stack.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for accelerating the ripening of bananas to a color stage of 3.0 to 3.5. Also provided herein are bananas ripened according to the methods of the present invention.

Abstract: A film for wrapping respiring produce is disclosed. The film comprises from about 60% to about 90% of an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) mixture which consists of (for example, from about 75% to about 90%) ethylene vinyl acetate and (for example, from about 10% to about 25%) vinyl acetate, with the balance of the film selected from food-safe, EVA-compatible, thermoplastic resins, such as low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, and mixtures of those materials. A bag for storage and shipment of respiring produce, such as bananas, made from that film material, as well as a method for shipping and storing respiring produce, such as bananas, avocados, salad components or flowers, utilizing that bag, are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enclosing a palletized container of fresh containers of perishables inside a modified atmosphere-containing plastic bag/enclosure stretched over the containers and over upwardly-folded and sealed margins of a plastic sheet placed between the pallet and the containers to seal the containers of perishables inside the bag/enclosure and to facilitate forming and maintaining a modified atmosphere inside the bag/enclosure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a ripening and/or storage room for produce, including fruit and/or vegetables, more particularly for bananas, and a method for storing and ripening such produce. The invention relates to the construction of said ripening and/or storage room to achieve substantially symmetrical distribution of the heat across the load stacked in room space during ripening/store periods using reversible air flow through the room.