| 摘要 |
A method for uniformly controlling the ripening of bananas and other perishable products from harvest to delivery, wherein a combination shipping and ripening container having an internal volume capable of receiving and maintaining a controlled atmosphere is provided. Freshly harvested, unripened perishable products are loaded into the container and cooled to a holding temperature in a range of from about 57 DEG to about 70 DEG F. Once the products are stabilized at the desired holding temperature, a controlled atmosphere including ethylene is preferably substantially immediately provided to the internal volume to uniformly initiate ripening of all of the loaded products. Once ripening has been initiated, the ethylene is reduced within the internal volume by displacement with a low oxygen controlled atmosphere, which is maintained within the container during storage, transportation, and delivery procedures. Prior to unloading the ripened products from the container, the atmosphere within the internal volume is returned to normal conditions. Once the loaded products have been stabilized at the desired holding temperature and exposed to the ethylene atmosphere to initiate ripening procedures, adjustments to the controlled atmosphere and temperature within the internal volume can be utilized to "tune" the ripening process as desired to provide ripened products for delivery within a range of timing schedules.
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