Method of using a floral package

Abstract

A breathable packaging material used for packaging items, such as floral groupings, flower pots, fresh produce, food, medical supplies/equipment, pharmaceutical products, and the like, thereby forming a breathable package for containing said items. The breathable packaging material comprises a sheet of material having controlled atmosphere characteristics, and having a desiccant and/or an antimicrobial agent. Methods for using breathable packaging material.

1 . A method for wrapping a floral grouping, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a sheet of material having an upper surface and a lower surface, the sheet of material having controlled atmosphere characteristics, the sheet of material further comprising a desiccant, an antimicrobial agent and at least one of a bonding material and a non-fogging agent;    providing a floral grouping comprising a bloom portion and a stem portion;    wrapping the sheet of material about the floral grouping so as to provide a wrapper for the floral grouping wherein the wrapper covers at least a portion of the bloom portion of the floral grouping and a substantial portion of the stem portion of the floral grouping; and    sealing the wrapper about the floral grouping such that the controlled atmosphere characteristics of the sheet of material from which the wrapper is constructed in combination with the desiccant, the antimicrobial agent and at least one of the bonding material and the non-fogging agent provide both a prolongation of the freshness of the floral grouping and optimal visual display of the floral grouping disposed in the wrapper.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, in the step of providing a sheet of material, the desiccant is selected from the group consisting of calcium chloride and silica gel.  
     
     
         39 . A method for wrapping a floral grouping, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a sheet of material having an upper surface and a lower surface, the sheet of material having controlled atmosphere characteristics, the sheet of material further comprising a desiccant, an antimicrobial agent and at least one of a bonding material and a non-fogging agent;    providing a floral grouping comprising a bloom portion and a stem portion; and    wrapping the sheet of material about the floral grouping so as to providing a wrapper for the floral grouping wherein the wrapper covers at least a portion of the bloom portion of the floral grouping with the stem portion of the floral grouping extending from the wrapper, the wrapper sealed about the bloom portion of the floral grouping such that the controlled atmosphere characteristics of the sheet of material from which the wrapper is constructed in combination with the desiccant, the antimicrobial agent and at least one of the bonding material and the non-fogging agent provide both a prolongation of the freshness of the bloom portion and optimal visual display of the bloom portion of the floral grouping disposed in the wrapper.    
     
     
         40 . The method of claim  39  wherein in the step of providing a sheet of material, the desiccant is selected from the group consisting of calcium chloride and silica gel.  
     
     
         41 . A method for wrapping an item in a breathable package, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a sheet of material having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer periphery, the sheet of material having controlled atmosphere characteristics, the sheet of material further comprising a desiccant, an antimicrobial agent and at least one of a bonding material and a non-fogging agent;    providing an item selected from the group consisting of food, fresh produce and a floral grouping; and    wrapping the item within said sheet of material so as to provide a breathable package for the item such that the controlled atmosphere characteristics of the sheet of material from which the breathable package is constructed in combination with the desiccant, the antimicrobial agent and at least one of the bonding material and the non-fogging agent provide both a prolongation of the freshness of the item and optimal visual display of the item disposed in the breathable package.