Produce package and method for displaying produce for sale

Abstract

A produce package comprises a bag and a quantity of fresh, unfrozen produce. The bag comprises a handle for carrying the bag, a base opposite the handle for supporting the bag on a surface when the bag is full, and at least one sidewall distinct from the base and extending between the base and the handle. The base and the at least one sidewall cooperate to form an interior volume of the bag and the produce is disposed within the interior volume of the bag. At least a portion of the bag is transparent for viewing the produce. Such produce packages may form part of a produce display comprising a plurality of the produce packages arranged in a single layer on a display surface with each produce package in an upright position in which the handle of the bag is at an upper end of the produce package.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A produce package, comprising:
 a bag, comprising:
 a handle for carrying the bag; 
 a base opposite the handle for supporting the bag on a surface when the bag is full; 
 at least one sidewall distinct from the base and extending between the base and the handle; 
 the base and the at least one sidewall cooperating to form an interior volume of the bag; and 
   a quantity of fresh, unfrozen produce disposed within the interior volume of the bag;   wherein at least a portion of the bag is transparent for viewing the quantity of produce.   
     
     
         2 . The produce package of  claim 1 , wherein the bag further comprises an aperture adjacent the handle, the aperture opening into the interior volume. 
     
     
         3 . The produce package of  claim 2 , wherein the bag further comprises a zip fastener extending across the aperture for opening and closing the bag. 
     
     
         4 . The produce package of  claim 1 , wherein the base is formed by a gusset. 
     
     
         5 . The produce package of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the bag is formed from a single sheet of plastic film;   the at least one sidewall consists of first and second opposed sidewalls formed by two portions of the sheet of film folded over against one another;   the gusset is formed by an inverse fold between the first and second opposed sidewalls;   the first and second opposed sidewalls are sealed to one another to form seams along opposed edges of the sidewalls transverse to the inverse fold; and   opposed edges of the gusset are sealed between the opposed edges of the sidewalls.   
     
     
         6 . The produce package of  claim 1 , wherein the bag further comprises vents defined through the at least one sidewall. 
     
     
         7 . A method for displaying produce for sale, comprising:
 providing a plurality of produce packages according to  claim 1 ; and   arranging the produce packages on a display surface in a single layer;   with each produce package in an upright position in which the handle of the bag is at an upper end of the produce package.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the display surface is generally horizontal. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the display surface is substantially inclined. 
     
     
         10 . A produce display, comprising:
 a display surface;   a plurality of produce packages according to  claim 1  arranged in a single layer on the display surface;   with each produce package in an upright position in which the handle of the bag is at an upper end of the produce package.   
     
     
         11 . The produce display of  claim 10 , wherein the display surface is generally horizontal. 
     
     
         12 . The produce display of  claim 10 , wherein the display surface is substantially inclined.