Granted Patent B2

US 8,697,164 · App. 13/089,176 · Granted Apr 15, 2014

Abstract

Claims (33)

1. A method of commercially packaging lettuce in a field using a wrap, the lettuce having a head, a stem, and roots, wherein the stem connects the head to the roots when the lettuce is growing in the ground, the wrap having a body with an opening and an elastomeric portion, wherein the elastomeric portion is attached near the opening of the wrap, wherein the wrap has a portion that is attached to a belt worn by a cutter, and wherein the wrap hangs as a stack of wraps from the belt worn by the cutter, the method comprising:

a) cutting the lettuce at the stem to harvest the head from the ground;

b) extending the elastomeric portion of the wrap to form a stretched portion;

c) placing the head through the stretched portion of the wrap into the body of the wrap;

d) releasing the stretched portion of the wrap, wherein the wrapped head remains attached to the belt worn by the cutter;

e) detaching the wrapped head from the belt worn by the cutter; and

f) placing the detached wrapped head in a carton,

wherein steps a)-f) are performed in the field in which the head was harvested.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the body is dimensioned to completely cover the head.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a material selected from the group consisting of low-density polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, butadiene, polystyrene, polyester, and any combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the body has one or more perforations.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein each perforation has a diameter greater than or equal to about 0.002 mm and less than or equal to about 0.5 inch.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric portion comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyisoprene, polybutadiene, and rubber.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the opening when the elastomeric portion is in its relaxed state has a diameter greater than or equal to about ⅛ inch and less than or equal to about 4 inches.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the opening when the elastomeric portion is in its stretched state has a maximum diameter of about 15.5 inches.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lettuce is an iceberg lettuce.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

stacking a plurality of cartons on a pallet;

vacuum-cooling the cartons on the pallet; and

shipping the pallet with the stacks of cartons to destination markets.

11. A method of commercially packaging lettuce in a field using a wrap, the lettuce having a head, a stem, and roots, wherein the stem connects the head to the roots when the lettuce is growing in the ground, wherein the wrap has a body and an opening, wherein at least a portion of the opening is elastomeric, wherein at least a portion of the wrap is attached to a belt worn by a cutter, the method comprising:

a) cutting the lettuce at the stem to harvest the head from the ground;

b) placing the head through a stretched elastomeric opening of the wrap into the body of the wrap;

c) releasing the stretched elastomeric opening of the wrap to form a wrapped head, wherein the wrapped head remains attached to the belt worn by the cutter; and

d) detaching the wrapped head from the belt worn by the cutter,

wherein steps a)-d) are performed in the field in which the head was harvested.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the body is dimensioned to completely cover the head.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the body comprises a material selected from the group consisting of low-density polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, butadiene, polystyrene, polyester, and any combinations thereof.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the body has one or more perforations.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the elastomeric portion of the opening comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyisoprene, polybutadiene, and rubber.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the elastomeric portion of the opening in its relaxed state has a diameter greater than or equal to about ⅛ inch and less than or equal to about 4 inches.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the elastomeric portion of the opening in its stretched state has a maximum diameter of about 15.5 inches.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the lettuce is an iceberg lettuce.

Assignments (26)