Abstract: To control shelf life of package produce, a first produce is placed inside an inner gas-permeable package. The inner gas-permeable package is sealed, thereby creating a first package atmosphere inside the inner package. A second produce is placed inside an outer gas-permeable package. The sealed inner package is contained within the outer gas-permeable package. The outer gas-permeable package is also sealed, thereby creating a second package atmosphere inside the outer bag. The first package atmosphere controls the shelf life of the first produce, and the second package atmosphere controls the shelf life of the second produce. The produce inside each inner and outer bag may include one or more vegetables, fruits, and nuts.

Abstract: A plant product includes a plant item and an envelope attached directly to the plant item wherein a flat object, such as a flattened vase, an instruction card, a storybook, a seed packet or a greeting card, is disposed in the envelope's interior. The plant item may be wrapped in a wrapper to which the envelope is secured, such as by an adhesive. Also disclosed is a structure for an exemplary envelope and flattened vase combination. A method utilizing these articles is also described. Where a flattened vase is used, it is of a type that can be selectively configured to an expanded state to receive the plant item.

Abstract: A cargo container has a top, bottom, and sides. The cargo container includes a ventilation unit having an air outlet. The cargo container also includes a ventilated floor, which has an air channel, and a baffle plate assembly configured to direct air from the air outlet of the ventilation unit into the air channel of the ventilated floor. The baffle plate assembly includes a first plate, which is attached to the bottom of the cargo container to remain fixed, and a second plate, which is hinged to the first plate to move from an open position to a closed position. When the second plate is in the open position, a gap between the air outlet of the ventilation unit and the air channel of the ventilated floor is exposed. When the second plate is in the closed position, the gap between the air outlet of the ventilation unit and the air channel of the ventilated floor is covered.

Abstract: In harvesting an agricultural product from a field to allow for later identification of a specific section of field where the harvesting occurred, harvest source information is inputted. A first Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinate corresponding to a first location in the specific section of field is captured. The agricultural product is harvested from the first location to a second location in the specific section of field. The harvested agricultural product is stored in a set of containers. A second GPS coordinate corresponding to the second location is captured. A unique Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) value is associated to each container of the set of containers to create a set of RFID values. The source information, the first GSP coordinate, and the second GPS coordinate are associated to the set of RFID values.

Abstract: A cargo container has a top, bottom, and sides. The cargo container includes a ventilation unit having an air outlet. The cargo container also includes a ventilated floor, which has an air channel, and a baffle plate assembly configured to direct air from the air outlet of the ventilation unit into the air channel of the ventilated floor. The baffle plate assembly includes a first plate, which is attached to the bottom of the cargo container to remain fixed, and a second plate, which is hinged to the first plate to move from an open position to a closed position. When the second plate is in the open position, a gap between the air outlet of the ventilation unit and the air channel of the ventilated floor is exposed. When the second plate is in the closed position, the gap between the air outlet of the ventilation unit and the air channel of the ventilated floor is covered.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a box having four top flaps initially disposed in an open position. The apparatus includes a conveying system for conveying the box from a first end of the apparatus to a second end of the apparatus. The apparatus also includes a flap folding system for folding the top flaps of the box into folded and horizontal positions as the box is conveyed from a first end of the apparatus to a second end of the apparatus. The flap folding system has a first flap folding member configured to fold a fourth top flap of the box, a second flap folding member configured to fold a second top flap of the box, and a pair of oppositely disposed side flap folding members configured to fold a first and third top flaps of the box so as to abut each other. A tape dispensing system is configured to dispense tape across at least a portion of the third and fourth top flaps of the box in order to maintain the third and fourth top flaps in abutment with each other, thereby sealing the box.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a box having four top flaps initially disposed in an open position. The apparatus includes a conveying system for conveying the box from a first end of the apparatus to a second end of the apparatus. The apparatus also includes a flap folding system for folding the top flaps of the box into folded and horizontal positions as the box is conveyed from a first end of the apparatus to a second end of the apparatus. The flap folding system has a first flap folding member configured to fold a fourth top flap of the box, a second flap folding member configured to fold a second top flap of the box, and a pair of oppositely disposed side flap folding members configured to fold a first and third top flaps of the box so as to abut each other. A tape dispensing system is configured to dispense tape across at least a portion of the third and fourth top flaps of the box in order to maintain the third and fourth top flaps in abutment with each other, thereby sealing the box.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a box having four top flaps initially disposed in an open position. The apparatus includes a conveying system for conveying the box from a first end of the apparatus to a second end of the apparatus. The apparatus also includes a flap folding system for folding the top flaps of the box into folded and horizontal positions as the box is conveyed from a first end of the apparatus to a second end of the apparatus. The flap folding system has a first flap folding member configured to fold a fourth top flap of the box, a second flap folding member configured to fold a second top flap of the box, and a pair of oppositely disposed side flap folding members configured to fold a first and third top flaps of the box so as to abut each other. A tape dispensing system is configured to dispense tape across at least a portion of the third and fourth top flaps of the box in order to maintain the third and fourth top flaps in abutment with each other, thereby sealing the box.

Abstract: To control the ripening of bananas in industrial banana processing, a group of bananas that have been harvested is obtained. The group of bananas has a plurality of bananas attached at a common crown. A first portion of the bananas of the group is placed inside of an ethylene-permeable container. A second portion of the bananas of the group is kept outside of the container. The group of bananas is exposed to ethylene gas, where the first and second portions of bananas are exposed to ethylene gas at approximately the same time to initiate ripening of the first and second portions of bananas at approximately the same time. The first and second portions of bananas are allowed to begin ripening.

Abstract: A new pineapple (Ananas comosus) variety of the Bromeliaceae family was developed from a cross between the parental lines 64-337 (Cl2Q2SGlPl)×59-443 (C9P3SG2R2) and has been designated ‘P-1972’. This new variety differs from its progenitors in having higher carotene content, improved aroma, distinct fruit and flesh colors, and very symmetrical, oval fruit shape. It also shows low incidence of fruitlet core rot and marbling. The plant is characterized by long spineless leaves with piping, pale to grayish green in color, with veins protruding from the leaf surface. The plant has a uniform cylindrical and symmetrical fruit with a smooth and thin shell and flat fruitlets or eyes. Fruit is borne on a peduncle and the crown is long and conical with green to grayish green leaves. When unripe, fruit shell is pale green, turning to uniform yellow color when ripe. The flesh color is orange-yellow to yellow.

Abstract: A new pineapple (Ananas comosus) variety of the Bromeliaceae family was developed from a cross between the parental lines 64-337 (C12Q2SG1P1)×59-443 (C9P3SG2R2) and has been designated ‘P-1972’. This new variety differs from its progenitors in having higher carotene content, improved aroma, distinct fruit and flesh colors, and very symmetrical, oval fruit shape. It also shows low incidence of fruitlet core rot and marbling. The plant is characterized by long spineless leaves with piping, pale to grayish green in color, with veins protruding from the leaf surface. The plant has a uniform cylindrical and symmetrical fruit with a smooth and thin shell and flat fruitlets or eyes. Fruit is borne on a peduncle and the crown is long and conical with green to grayish green leaves. When unripe, fruit shell is pale green, turning to uniform yellow color when ripe. The flesh color is orange-yellow to yellow.

Abstract: A new pineapple (Ananas comosus) variety of the Bromeliaceae family was developed from a cross made by Dole between the commercial variety ‘MG-03’ and ‘P-1972’, a patented clone, and has been designated ‘Dole-14’. This new variety differs from its progenitors in having higher carotenoid content, medium acidity, low fiber content, improved aroma, distinct fruit flavor and flesh colors, and a conical to cylinder shaped fruit with a long conical crown. It also shows high tolerance to NDF and less susceptibility to shell cracking. The plant is characterized by long spineless leaves with piping, that are pale to grayish green in color. When unripe, fruit shell is pale green turning to uniform yellow color when ripe, and the flesh develops a deep golden color at maturity.

Abstract: A new pineapple (Ananas comosus) variety of the Bromeliaceae family was developed from a cross between the parental hybrid ‘Dole-17’ and the commercial variety ‘Dole-11’ and has been designated ‘Dole-34’. This new variety differs from its progenitors in bearing a large oval to round shaped fruit with a crown that is lengthened cylindrical with a bunchy top, and with an intense reddish-orange color of the shell. The plant is compact and characterized by long spineless leaves with piping, that are green in color with red mottling. When unripe, fruit shell is dark green turning to uniform reddish-orange color when ripe, and the flesh is sweet and develops a yellow color at maturity. It also shows tolerance to natural flowering differentiation (NDF).