Produce packaging system enabling improved drainage for hydrocooling

Abstract

A produce packaging method and system incorporates a plurality of consumer sized containers which are loaded into a cooling box and hydrocooled. The consumer sized container having ample ventilation and drainage enabling efficient ingress and egress of cooling water into container to cool produce contained inside. Containers also having a sloped interior surfaces for draining water toward an exit vent and out of the container during hydrocooling. The system also includes a cooling box configured for holding the containers in an upright orientation enabling inflow of cooling water into the containers and out of the box and also for shipping.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of cooling produce comprising:
 providing a consumer sized container having produce enclosed therein;   bringing the produce into contact with a hydrocooling fluid;   cooling the produce; and   draining the hydrocooling fluid from the container.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising placing a plurality of the consumer sized containers within a cooling box prior to bringing the produce into contact with the hydrocooling fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said consumer sized container is configured to enable ready ingress and egress of hydrocooling fluid from the container. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein two opposing sides of said consumer sized container are configured with container openings large enough to enable sufficient ingress and drainage of hydrocooling fluid from the container without having the produce come out of the container during cooling or subsequent shipping. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein cooling box is configured having box openings sufficient to enable sufficient hydrocooling fluid ingress into the box such that the produce is sufficiently cooled and drainage out of the cooling box to prevent undue fluid pooling once drained. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein consumer sized containers are arranged such that the container openings are aligned with the box openings of the cooling box to facilitate easy drainage and to facilitate the introduction of cooled air into the containers to maintain the produce in a cooled state. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising forcing cooled air through the box openings to enable maintenance of the produce in a cooled state. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising air cooling the drained containers with a flow of cooled are into the containers. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said placing a plurality of the consumer sized containers within a cooling box comprises arranging the containers within the box such that one of said container sides is facing downward to facilitate drainage of the hydrocooling fluid from the container during said draining. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the consumer sized containers comprises an external support arranged at the downward side of said containers such that the containers rest in the desired orientation with the container when placed. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 4  wherein an absorbent pad is arranged within the container to maintain some moisture within the container. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein at the container comprises an internal support arranged inside of said container and arranged to support the absorbent pad. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising shipping the containers in the cooling boxes such that the boxes are the shipping containers.