Produce display

Abstract

A produce display station assembly including a carriage for carrying produce to be displayed. A display station receives the carriage. Preferably, the display station defines an open front for the carriage to enter into the display station. Advantageously, the produce to be displayed can be conveniently carried between the display station and the cool room, without the need to transport the produce individually.

1 . A produce display system including:
 a carriage for carrying produce to be displayed;   a display station for receiving the carriage, the display station defining an open front for the carriage to enter into the display station; and   an environmental control system which produces an atmosphere around said carriage of reduced temperature and increased humidity compared to ambient.   
     
     
         2 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A produce display system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the environmental control system includes an ozone generator to place ozone into the atmosphere around the produce. 
     
     
         8 . A produce display system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the environmental control system outputs a controlled atmosphere through two outlets above the carriage, an outer outlet providing cooled air that falls onto the produce and an inner outlet providing the air of increased humidity. 
     
     
         9 . A produce display system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the ozone is placed in the humidified air stream. 
     
     
         10 . A produce display system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an environmental control system is incorporated in the display station. 
     
     
         11 . A produce display system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of an environmental control system is provided external of the display station and the display station includes connections to connect to the external environmental control system. 
     
     
         12 . A produce display system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the atmosphere around the produce is maintained at a temperature of less than 8° C. and a humidity of over 90%. 
     
     
         13 . A produce display system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the atmosphere further includes less than 1% ozone. 
     
     
         14 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A produce display system as claimed in  claim 1  for receiving and displaying produce in which the environment is controlled to provide an air stream over the produce having a temperature of between 15° C. and 1° C., humidity of greater than 90% and including ozone. 
     
     
         17 . A produce display system as claimed in  claim 1  having a display portion for the display of produce and two outlets for environmentally controlled air streams above the display portion, the two air streams comprising one temperature controlled stream having a temperature between 15° C. and 1° C. and another air stream having humidity of greater than 90%. 
     
     
         18 . A produce display system as claim in  claim 17 , wherein the outlet for the temperature controlled air stream is positioned above the outlet for the humidity controlled air stream. 
     
     
         19 . A method of displaying produce including containing the produce on display in an environmentally controlled atmosphere in which the temperature is retained at between 15° C. and 1° C., the humidity is greater than 90% and ozone is present. 
     
     
         20 . A produce display station assembly including:
 a top wall;   a back wall;   side walls spaced apart by at least the width of a standard pallet;   and open front for receiving a pallet of produce;   at least one outlet for a temperature controlled air stream included at a front edge of a top wall for directing said air stream over the front and into said display station; and   at least one air inlet to draw air from said display cabinet positioned in or adjacent a lower edge of said back wall and configured to align with the open channels of a standard pallet positioned in the display cabinet.   
     
     
         21 . A produce display station assembly as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the display station further provides an environmentally controlled atmosphere. 
     
     
         22 . A produce display station assembly as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the atmosphere around the produce is maintained at a temperature of less than 8° C. and a humidity of over 90%. 
     
     
         23 . A produce display station assembly as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the atmosphere further includes less than 1% ozone. 
     
     
         24 . A produce display station assembly as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the atmosphere around the produce is maintained at a temperature of less than 8° C. and a humidity of over 90%. 
     
     
         25 . A produce display station assembly as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the atmosphere further includes less than 1% ozone. 
     
     
         26 . A produce display station assembly as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the atmosphere further includes less than 1% ozone. 
     
     
         27 . A produce display system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the environmental control system outputs a controlled atmosphere through two outlets above the carriage, an outer outlet providing cooled air that falls onto the produce and an inner outlet providing the air of increased humidity.