Shelf-stable pouch for fresh-packed fruits or vegetables

Abstract

An assembly may include a shelf-stable pouch for fruits or vegetables. The assembly may comprise a pouch having a closed condition and an open configuration. The dosed configuration may be configured to seal portions of at least one of the fruits and vegetables and brine prior to heating the pouch for pasteurization. The open condition may allow for the removal and serving of the portions after pasteurization from heating,

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A shelf-stable pouch assembly comprising:
 a plurality of cucumber portions; and   a pouch having a closed configuration and an open configuration, the pouch including
 a top portion having a releasable seal to transition the pouch between the closed configuration and the open configuration, 
 a bottom portion having a gusset with a perimeter configured to support the pouch on a surface in an upright position with the top portion above the bottom portion, and 
 a first side portion and a second side portion each extending between the top portion and the bottom portion to form a cavity, 
   wherein the plurality of cucumber portions is contained within the cavity when the pouch is in the closed configuration prior to heating the pouch for pasteurization, and wherein the open configuration allows the removal of the plurality of cucumber portions from the pouch following pasteurization.   
     
     
         22 . The assembly of  claim 21 , further including a brine within the cavity of the pouch. 
     
     
         23 . The assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the pouch is configured to receive the plurality of cucumber portions in a fresh state at a first time when the pouch is in the open configuration prior to pasteurization, and wherein at least a portion of the plurality of cucumber portions transition to a pickled state at a second time when the pouch is in the closed configuration upon exposure to the brine within the cavity. 
     
     
         24 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the first side portion and the second side portion each include heat-sealed panels. 
     
     
         25 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the top portion, the bottom portion, the first side portion, or the second side portion is formed from a panel having a first layer,
 a second layer, and a third layer interposed between the first layer and the second layer, wherein   the third layer includes a metal foil or a metallized film.   
     
     
         26 . The assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the panel includes adhesive between the first layer and the third layer. 
     
     
         27 . The assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the panel includes adhesive between the third layer and the second layer. 
     
     
         28 . The assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the panel includes a heat seal securing the first layer with the third layer. 
     
     
         29 . The assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the panel includes a fourth layer secured to the second layer, and wherein the second layer is interposed between the fourth layer and the third layer. 
     
     
         30 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the top portion is configured to receive an injector at a position above or in the brine when the pouch is in the open configuration to introduce the injector into the cavity to pass an inert gas into the cavity to remove oxygen from the pouch. 
     
     
         31 . The assembly of  claim 30 , wherein the pouch is configured to receive the injector into at least a portion of the pouch at the position above or in the brine while the plurality of cucumber portions and the brine are in the pouch. 
     
     
         32 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of cucumber portions are sectioned from a whole cucumber. 
     
     
         33 . A shelf-stable pouch assembly comprising:
 a plurality of fresh cucumber portions;   a brine; and   a pouch having a closed configuration and an open configuration, the pouch including
 a top portion having a releasable seal to transition the pouch between the closed configuration and the open configuration, 
 a bottom portion having a gusset with a perimeter configured to support the pouch on a surface in an upright position with the top portion above the bottom portion, and 
 a first side portion and a second side portion each extending between the top portion and the bottom portion to form a cavity, 
   wherein the plurality of cucumber portions and the brine are contained within the cavity when the pouch is in the closed configuration prior to heating the pouch for pasteurization, wherein the open configuration allows the removal of the plurality of cucumber portions from the pouch following pasteurization, wherein the pouch is configured to receive the plurality of fresh cucumber portions at a first time when the pouch is in the open configuration prior to pasteurization, and wherein at least a portion of the plurality of fresh cucumber portions transition to a pickled state at a second time when the pouch is in the closed configuration upon exposure to the brine within the cavity.   
     
     
         34 . The assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the first side portion and the second side portion each include heat-sealed panels. 
     
     
         35 . The assembly of  claim 33 , wherein at least one of the top portion, the bottom portion, the first side portion, or the second side portion is formed from a panel having a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer interposed between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the third layer includes a metal foil or a metallized film. 
     
     
         36 . The assembly of  claim 35 , wherein the panel includes an adhesive between the first layer and the third layer. 
     
     
         37 . The assembly of  claim 36 , wherein the panel includes adhesive between the third layer and the second layer. 
     
     
         38 . The assembly of  claim 35 , wherein the panel includes a fourth layer secured to the second layer, and wherein the second layer is interposed between the fourth layer and the third layer. 
     
     
         39 . The assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the top portion is configured to receive an injector at a position above or in the brine when the pouch is in the open configuration to introduce the injector into the cavity to pass an inert gas into the cavity to remove oxygen from the pouch. 
     
     
         40 . The assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the plurality of fresh cucumber portions are sectioned from a whole fresh cucumber.