Leaf Vegetable Packaging Tray

Abstract

A packaging tray holds leaf vegetables with their roots intact during the packaging process. The resultant leaf vegetable in the package includes its roots, allowing for longer shelf life and freshness of the leaf vegetable.

1 . A tray comprising:
 a tray body, open along a top side and closed along a bottom side formed by a base, the base disposed along a first plane, and a plurality of sidewalls at the perimeter of the base, the sidewalls extending from the base to edges, each of the edges forming a portion of a peripheral rim along the top side, the peripheral rim disposed along a second plane which is substantially parallel to the first plane; and,   at least one cylinder extending from the base in the tray body to a height below the peripheral rim.   
     
     
         2 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cylinder is formed by at least two walls arranged concentrically and/or concentrically with respect to each other. 
     
     
         3 . The tray of  claim 2 , wherein the at least two walls are joined by an edge extending between the walls, such that the at least one cylinder is strengthened against collapse from contents placed into the at least one cylinder of the tray. 
     
     
         4 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cylinder is one of: polygonal, circular, oval, rounded, and/or triangular, in cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         5 . The tray of  claim 4 , wherein the polygonal cross sectional shape is octagonal. 
     
     
         6 . The tray of  claim 3 , wherein the at least two walls of the at least one cylinder are one of: polygonal, circular, oval, rounded, and/or triangular, in cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         7 . The tray of  claim 6 , wherein the polygonal cross sectional shape is octagonal. 
     
     
         8 . The tray of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one cylinder includes a plurality of cylinders. 
     
     
         9 . The tray of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of cylinders includes two cylinders. 
     
     
         10 . The tray of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one cylinder includes one cylinder. 
     
     
         11 . A method of packaging leaf vegetables comprising:
 obtaining at least one tray comprising:
 a tray body, open along a top side and closed along a bottom side formed by a base, the base disposed along a first plane, and a plurality of sidewalls at the perimeter of the base, the sidewalls extending from the base to edges, each of the edges forming a portion of a peripheral rim along the top side, the peripheral rim disposed along a second plane which is substantially parallel to the first plane; and, 
   at least one cylinder extending from the base in the tray body to a height below the peripheral rim;   wherein leaf vegetables have been loaded into the at least one tray so as to seat in the at least one cylinder; and   packaging the loaded tray by joining a cover film over the top of the tray to the peripheral rim of the tray.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the joining is provided by a heat seal between the cover film and the peripheral edge of the tray. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the leaf vegetable includes roots that seat in the at least one cylinder upon the loading and the packaging. 
     
     
         14 . A method of packaging leaf vegetables comprising:
 obtaining at least one tray comprising:
 a tray body, open along a top side and closed along a bottom side formed by a base, the base disposed along a first plane, and a plurality of sidewalls at the perimeter of the base, the sidewalls extending from the base to edges, each of the edges forming a portion of a peripheral rim along the top side, the peripheral rim disposed along a second plane which is substantially parallel to the first plane; and, 
   at least one cylinder extending from the base in the tray body to a height below the peripheral rim;   wherein leaf vegetables have been loaded into the at least one tray so as to seat in the at least one cylinder; and   packaging the loaded tray by providing a package enveloping the loaded tray by flow packaging.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the flow packaging comprises:
 applying a wrapper film to form a tube around the at least one loaded tray, the tube such that wrapper film includes overlapping longitudinal edges and overlapping sides;   joining the longitudinally overlapping edges to form a longitudinally extending seal; and   joining the overlapping sides to form transversely extending seals on opposite sides of the at least one loaded tray;   wherein the sealed tube enveloping the at least one loaded tray forms a package for the at least one loaded tray.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , additionally comprising: separating the package from wrapper film upstream from the sealed package. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the longitudinally extending seal and the transversely extending seals include heat seals. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the leaf vegetable includes roots that seat in the at least one cylinder upon the loading and the packaging.