Method of controlling shelf life of packaged produce

Abstract

To control shelf life of package produce, a first produce is placed inside an inner gas-permeable package. The inner gas-permeable package is sealed, thereby creating a first package atmosphere inside the inner package. A second produce is placed inside an outer gas-permeable package. The sealed inner package is contained within the outer gas-permeable package. The outer gas-permeable package is also sealed, thereby creating a second package atmosphere inside the outer bag. The first package atmosphere controls the shelf life of the first produce, and the second package atmosphere controls the shelf life of the second produce. The produce inside each inner and outer bag may include one or more vegetables, fruits, and nuts.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of controlling shelf life of packaged produce by differential gas permeability, the method comprising:
 placing a first produce inside an inner gas-permeable package, wherein the inner gas-permeable package has a first gas permeability rate;   sealing the inner gas-permeable package;   placing a second produce inside an outer gas-permeable package, wherein the outer gas-permeable package has a second gas permeability rate; and   sealing the outer gas-permeable package, wherein the outer gas-permeable package surrounds the inner gas-permeable package, and wherein the first gas permeability rate is different than the second gas permeability rate to control shelf life of the first produce and the second produce.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first gas permeability rate and the second gas permeability rate are each an oxygen transfer rate. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first gas permeability rate and the second gas permeability rate are independently an oxygen transfer rate of at least 100 cc O 2 /100 in 2 /day. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sealed inner package has a first package atmosphere, wherein the first package atmosphere controls the shelf life of the first produce, wherein the sealed outer package has a second package atmosphere, and wherein the second package atmosphere controls the shelf life of the second produce. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first package atmosphere is the same, higher or lower than the second package atmosphere. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inner gas-permeable package has one or more perforations. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein each perforation of the inner gas-permeable package has a diameter greater than or equal to about 20 microns and less than or equal to about 12.5 nm. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the outer gas-permeable package has one or more perforations. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein each said perforation of the outer gas-permeable package has a diameter greater than or equal to about 20 microns and less than or equal to about 12.5 nm. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inner gas-permeable package and the outer gas-permeable package each independently comprises a material selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, butadiene, polystyrene, polyester, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first produce is the same or different as the second produce. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first produce and the second produce are each independently one or more vegetables, fruits, or a combination thereof.