WO2004035424A1

WO2004035424A1 - Packaging and packaging method for ornamental cultivated plants

Info

Publication number: WO2004035424A1
Application number: PCT/NL2003/000708
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Keith Jones; Susanna Blanche Jones
Original assignee: John Keith Jones; Susanna Blanche Jones
Priority date: 2002-10-21
Filing date: 2003-10-20
Publication date: 2004-04-29
Also published as: AU2003301294A1; NL1021711C2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a packaging method for ornamental cultivated plants (4), comprising placing ornamental cultivated plants in a substantially upright position in a pack (1); placing a nutrient medium (5) in the pack; administering a leaf-yellowing inhibitor (6) to the ornamental cultivated plants; and placing the pack in a cooled environment. The present invention also relates to a pack for upright transportation and display of ornamental cultivated plants, comprising a holder (2) of an at least partially open design in which ornamental cultivated plants can be placed in an upright position; and a lid (3) for covering the holder, the holder and the lid being designed in such a way that the lid can serve as a base for the holder.

Description

PACKAGING AND PACKAGING METHOD FOR ORNAMENTAL CULTIVATED PLANTS

The present invention relates to a packaging method for ornamental cultivated plants .

In known packaging methods for ornamental cultivated plants, ornamental cultivated plants, for example cut flowers, are packed in a box for transportation. In this box the ornamental cultivated plants lie flat, i.e. horizontally, without nutrients or water.

A disadvantage of the known method is that the ornamental cultivated plants grow crooked in the boxes. In the dark the ornamental cultivated plant has a natural tendency to grow vertically upwards. This means that in the horizontal position the ornamental cultivated plants develop a kink, which is undesirable. This problem occurs particularly in the case of tulips. It has also been found that if irises are stored and transported horizontally, this results in stress formation in the neck of the flower, which impedes full opening of the flower bud and also shortens the vase life.

Another disadvantage is that the ornamental cultivated plants will keep for only a short time when they are stored in the known pack. In the known method the ornamental cultivated plants are not provided with either nutrients or liquids . The freshness of the ornamental cultivated plants will thus be greatly reduced within a short time. Transportation of the ornamental cultivated plants in the known pack must therefore take only a short time.

Other packaging methods often have the disadvantage that they do not fully enclose the ornamental cultivated plants, with the result that the ornamental cultivated plants are partially unprotected. A further disadvantage of known packaging methods for ornamental cultivated plants is that the ornamental cultivated plants are fully or partially in a position pressed too closely together in the pack. The result of such a packaging method is that the ornamental cultivated plants can become damaged and begin to rot.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above and other disadvantages. To that en ,_/ the invention provides a packaging method for ornamental cultivated plants, comprising: placing ornamental cultivated plants in a substantially upright position in a pack; placing a nutrient medium in the pack; - administering a leaf-yellowing inhibitor to the ornamental cultivated plants; and placing the pack in a cooled environment. A major advantage of the packaging method according to the invention is that the ornamental cultivated plants are packed in an upright position. By placing the ornamental cultivated plants upright, the ornamental cultivated plants are prevented from growing further in the pack and developing a kink, owing to the fact that the ornamental cultivated plants have a natural tendency to grow towards the light. A further advantage of the invention is that the ornamental cultivated plants can stay in the pack for a longer time without suffering any adverse effect on their freshness. The nutrient medium in the pack provides the ornamental cultivated plants with nutrients. In addition, the ornamental cultivated plants for the most part do not suffer from yellowing, because a leaf- yellowing inhibitor is administered. If ornamental cultivated plants stay for quite a long time in a substantially sealed pack, the ornamental cultivated plants can in fact lose their green colour and turn yellow. The cooled environment ensures that there is a further slowing-down of the ageing process of the ornamental cultivated plants.

The person skilled in the art will understand that the method according to the invention is suitable in principle for any ornamental cultivated plant. The invention is suitable in particular for cut flowers such as tulips, irises and lilies.

The nutrient medium can be in the form of different materials and substances. For instance, the nutrient medium can be surrounded by a plastic tray or a watertight coating connecting to the side walls of the pack, but the nutrient medium can also be in the form of, for example, an oasis containing nutrients. It should be clear that the nutrient medium comprises nutrients that are suitable for the ornamental cultivated plants in the pack. The nutrients can, for example, be dissolved in water or gel, a layer of which is placed in the abovementioned tray, or the nutrients can be incorporated in the oasis. Suitable nutrients are products with active ingredients that ensure a longer vase life and improved flower opening. The person skilled in the art will also understand what products are suitable for inhibiting the leaf-yellowing of the ornamental cultivated plants. Examples of such a product are Pokon chrysal® or Vitabric®. This leaf-yellowing inhibitor can, of course, also be incorporated in the nutrient medium and does not have to be administered separately.

It should be clear that the various steps in the method do not have to be in the abovementioned order. For example, the nutrient medium can be placed in the pack first and the ornamental cultivated plants can then be placed in the pack in or on top of the nutrient medium.

A good result of the packaging method is obtained in a cooled environment at a temperature of between -2 and 5 degrees Celsius, and preferably at a temperature of between 0 and 2.5 degrees Celsius. A stem-growth inhibitor is advantageously administered to the ornamental cultivated plants. This has the advantage that the stem growth of the ornamental cultivated plants is restricted. Without stem-growth inhibitor, the stem can grow in the pack, which in the case of cut flowers, for example, can lead to damage to the flower head against the top side of the pack.

The person skilled in the art will understand what products are suitable for inhibiting stem growth, for example Pokon chrysal® or Vitabric®. This stem-growth inhibitor can also be incorporated in the nutrient medium and does not have to be administered separately.

The ornamental cultivated plants are advantageously placed in the pack inside an oxygen-transmitting second pack. This means, on the one hand, that the ornamental cultivated plants are protected against harmful substances, while, on the other hand, the necessary oxygen can pass into the second pack.

The person skilled in the art will understand that the second pack must be capable of allowing through so much oxygen that the ornamental cultivated plants do not suffer any shortage of oxygen during the entire duration of packaging. To this end, the second pack can be made of various materials. The second pack preferably has OTR (Oxygen Transmission) values of 9,800 - 11,000 ml/m²/day at 23°C; 5,400 - 6,000 ml/m²/day at 12.5°C; 975 - 1,100 ml/m²/day at 2.5°C; 15 - 135 ml/m²/day at 0°C; and approximately 0 at 2°C. The person skilled in the art will quickly be able to select, for example, a suitable (possibly multi-ply) plastic film for this purpose. More advantageously, the ornamental cultivated plants are placed in the pack in an ethylene-regulating second pack. By means of the ethylene-regulating second pack, the ethylene content in the second pack is kept low, which keeps the ornamental cultivated plants fresh for longer. It has also been found that the second pack prevents the ornamental cultivated plants from drying out, which improves their keeping quality. It has proved advantageous for the second pack to have an ethylene absorption value in the region of 0.7 - 14.00 ml/m²/day.

The second pack can, of course be both oxygen-transmitting and ethylene-regulating at the same time.

In an advantageous embodiment according to the invention an ethylene-absorbing agent is placed inside the pack. As in the case of the ethylene-regulating second pack, the ethylene- absorbing agent ensures that the ethylene content inside the pack is lowered. If the ornamental cultivated plants are placed in an ethylene-regulating second pack, the ethylene-absorbing agent ensures absorption of ethylene coming from outside the pack and improves the effect of the ethylene-regulating second pack. The ethylene-absorbing agent can be provided in various forms, for example in the form of granules. The person skilled in the art will understand what agents are suitable for ethylene absorption. In particular, cut flowers - and particularly tulips or irises - are packed as ornamental cultivated plants in the packaging method according to the invention.

In another aspect the present invention provides a pack for upright transportation and display of ornamental cultivated plants, comprising: a holder of an at least partially open design in which ornamental cultivated plants can be placed in an upright position; a lid for covering the holder; a second pack made of an ethylene-regulating material, which can be placed in the holder, which second pack can substantially enclose the ornamental cultivated plants, the holder and the lid being designed in such a way that the lid can serve as a base for the holder.

A major advantage of the pack according to the invention is that the ornamental cultivated plants can be placed upright in the pack, which prevents the ornamental cultivated plants from growing crooked. A further advantage is that the ornamental cultivated plants are fully protected in the pack and cannot easily become damaged.

A further advantage is that the ornamental cultivated plants rest against each other, but are not pressed together in the pack. This means therefore that the ornamental cultivated plants are not damaged, and the ornamental cultivated plants do not begin to rot.

Another major advantage of the pack is that it can be converted easily and quickly for display, by using the lid as a base for the holder.

When the holder and lid are advantageously made of cardboard, the pack is light. In addition, a rectangular shape is preferable for the pack, in which case the capacity of the pack can be fully used and no space is lost in the stacking for transportation.

It has been -found advantageous for the second pack to have an ethylene-absorption value in the region of 0.7 - 14.00 ml/m²/day. It is also preferable for the second pack to be oxygen- transmitting. The second pack preferably has OTR values of 9,800

- 11,000 ml/m²/day at 23°C; 5,400 - 6,000 ml/m²/day at 12.5°C; 975

- 1,100 ml/m²/day at 2.5°C; and 15 - 135 ml/m²/day at 0°C. The person skilled in the art will quickly be able to select, for example, a suitable (possibly multi-ply) plastic film for this purpose .

In an advantageous embodiment of the pack according to the invention the pack is provided with holes for air circulation. Fresh (oxygen-rich) air can pass into the pack through these holes. This fresh air is advantageous for preventing the ornamental cultivated plants from suffocating.

It is preferable for the lid to have sides which at least partially enclose the sides of the holder when the pack is substantially closed, and which have substantially the same dimensions as the abovementioned sides of the holder.

An advantage of this embodiment is that in the substantially closed state of the pack the sides of the lid provide reinforcement for the pack. They make the sides of the pack as a whole double-walled, owing to the fact that the sides of holder and lid have substantially the same dimensions.

Another advantage of the substantially equal dimensions of the sides is that in the display position the ornamental cultivated plants, in particular cut flowers, catch the eye of potential buyers without further aids. The ornamental cultivated plants in this case can be placed twice as high as in the closed state of the pack.

Another advantage of the substantially equal dimensions is that in the closed state the pack will not accidentally open. The lid is pushed over the holder. Owing to the equal dimensions, the sides of the two parts will touch each other. Because of the friction between the sides touching each other, the lid will not accidentally slide off the holder.

In particular, the holder and the lid comprise connecting means for fixing the holder on the lid when the lid is being used as a base for the holder.

The advantage of the connecting means is that the holder cannot easily fall off the lid when the holder is standing on the lid for the display of the ornamental cultivated plants . It will be clear to the person skilled in the art that the connecting means can be designed in many ways, so long as a stable and secure fixing of holder and lid is provided. These connecting means are preferably in the form of projecting lips for at least partial accommodation of the holder.

The holder preferably has one or more at least partially removable sides. In the display state the removal of one or more of the sides provides a better and more effective presentation of the ornamental cultivated plants.

In a further aspect the present invention relates to the use of the pack according to the invention for packaging ornamental cultivated plants, preferably by the packaging method according to the invention, and in particular for packaging cut flowers, in particular tulips or irises.

In another aspect the present invention relates to the use of the pack according to the invention for transportation in a container, in particular a sea container, for air transport and for displaying ornamental cultivated plants, in particular cut flowers.

The present invention and a number of embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to a drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic cross-sectional front view of a pack according to the invention;

Fig. 2a shows a perspective view of the holder of the pack;

Fig. 2b shows a perspective view of the lid of the pack;

Fig. 2c shows a perspective view of the holder of the pack with a side removed for display purposes; Fig. 3a shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the pack according to the invention;

Fig. 3b shows a longitudinal section of the pack shown in Fig. 3a through line A-A;

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the pack according to the invention in the arrangement for display.

Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic cross section of the pack 1 according to the invention. The pack 1 comprises a holder 2 with a lid 3. Ornamental cultivated plants 4, such as irises, are placed in the pack 1 in a nutrient medium 5. The nutrient medium

5 can comprise, for example, a tray containing a layer of nutrient-rich moisture. The nutrient medium 5 in the embodiment shown also comprises a leaf-yellowing inhibitor 6 and a stem- growth inhibitor 7. In the embodiment shown a second pack 8 completely encloses the ornamental cultivated plants 4 and the nutrient medium 5. The second pack 8 can be made of oxygen- transmitting material, ethylene-regulating material or oxygen- transmitting and ethylene-regulating material. Inside the pack 1, but outside the second pack 8, an ethylene-absorbing agent 9 is present.

Figure 2a shows a perspective view of the holder 2. The holder 2 is preferably made of cardboard and has one or more removable sides. In the embodiment shown a large part of one side and smaller parts of adjoining sides can be removed by means of a perforation line 10. If cut flowers are being packed as the ornamental cultivated plants 4, the holder 2 has dimensions of, for example, approximately 60 x 30 x 60 centimetres (1 x b x h) . The lid 3, as shown in Figure 2b, preferably has substantially the same dimensions as the holder 2 and is also made of cardboard. The pack 1 can be designed with connecting means 11, for connecting the holder 2 to the lid 3, in order to display the ornamental cultivated plants 4. In the embodiment shown the lid 3 has projecting lips as connecting means 11, which lips can at least partially accommodate the holder 2 when the lid 3 is being used as the base for holder 2.

Fig. 2c again shows a perspective view of the holder 2, corresponding to the holder 2 shown in Figure 2a, but this time without the parts that are removable along the perforation line 10.

When the pack 1 according to the invention is being used a nutrient medium 5 is placed in the holder 2. Said nutrient medium 5 preferably covers the entire bottom of the holder 2. The nutrient medium can be supplemented with leaf-yellowing inhibitor 6 and stem-growth inhibitor 7, but these products can also be administered to the ornamental cultivated plants 4 in another way. The ornamental cultivated plants 4 are placed in an upright position in the pack 1 and in the nutrient medium 5. Before the nutrient medium 5 and the ornamental cultivated plants 4 are placed in the pack 1, the second pack 8 can be placed in the pack 1, so that nutrient medium 5 and ornamental cultivated plants 4 can then be placed in the second pack 8. The second pack 8 completely encloses the ornamental cultivated plants 4. Outside the second pack 8 an ethylene-absorbing agent

9 can be applied, after which the lid 3 is placed over the holder 2. The holder 2 is then substantially closed.

The pack 1 is subsequently placed in a cooled environment, so that the ornamental cultivated plants 4 will hardly age for a period of at least 3, or even 6, weeks. During this period the ornamental cultivated plants can be transported, provided that they are cooled. This means that the pack 1 according to the invention provides the possibility of transporting the ornamental cultivated plants 4 intercontinentally by ship.

The pack 1 is particularly suitable for transportation on a pallet. The pack 1 is preferably rectangular and sturdy. This makes it readily stackable and no space is lost. This also makes the pack 1 very suitable for air transport. The pack 1 is also particularly suitable for the display of ornamental cultivated plants. A few simple and quick operations convert the pack 1 to a display of the type shown in Figure 4.

Both the holder 2 and the lid 3 are shown in Figure 3a. The holder 2 is shown by a broken line, and the lid 3 is shown by a solid line. The broken line indicates that in this perspective view the holder 2 in reality is not visible. The lid 3 has been pushed over the holder 2. In this way the holder 2 and the lid 3 together form a substantially sealed pack 1. In addition to the lips as connecting means 11, the lid 3 is provided with air holes 12, which air holes 12 are also situated in the same position in the holder 2. A longitudinal section is made through the pack 1 through the dashed line A-A, which longitudinal section is shown in Fig. 3b.

The longitudinal cross-sectional view A-A in Figure 3b shows the lid 3 pushed over the holder 2. The holder 2 contains the ornamental cultivated plants 4 in a nutrient medium 5, enclosed by the oxygen-transmitting, ethylene-regulating second pack 8. An ethylene-absorbing agent 9 is also placed inside the space enclosed by the holder 2 and the lid 3, outside the second pack 8. The air holes 12 are placed in the holder 2 and the lid

3 in such a way that with the holder 2 and the lid 3 pushed over each other an open communication to the outside is present, in order to provide air change in the pack 1.

Fig. 4 shows the pack 1 in an arrangement in which the pack

1 is suitable for display. The holder 2, with partially removed side as shown in Figure 2c, is placed on the lid 3, which in this arrangement acts as a base. The lips as connecting means 11 enclose the holder 2, so that the latter cannot slip and a stable means of presentation is provided.

After transportation to a sales location, the ornamental cultivated plants 4 can very easily and quickly be displayed for sale. The lid 3 is removed from the holder 2. The lid 3 is set down at the desired point. The holder 2 containing the ornamental cultivated plants 4 is clamped on the lid 3 between the lips 11. After removal of the side that is partially removable through the presence of aids such as perforation line 10, the pack 1 has been converted to a display.

Claims

1. Packaging method for ornamental cultivated plants (4), comprising: - placing ornamental cultivated plants (4) in a substantially upright position in a pack (1) ; placing a nutrient medium (5) in the pack (1) ; administering a leaf-yellowing inhibitor (6) to the ornamental cultivated plants (4) ; and - placing the pack (1) in a cooled environment.

2. Packaging method according to Claim 1, characterized in that a stem-growth inhibitor (7) is administered to the ornamental cultivated plants (4) .

3. Packaging method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ornamental cultivated plants (4) are placed in the pack (1) in an oxygen-transmitting second pack (8) .

4. Packaging method according to one or more of the preceding Claims 1 - 3, characterized in that the ornamental cultivated plants (4) are placed in the pack (1) in an ethylene-regulating second pack (8) .

5. Packaging method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that an ethylene-absorbing agent (9) is placed inside the pack (1) .

6. Packaging method according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which cut flowers, in particular tulips or irises, are packed as the ornamental cultivated plants (4) .

7. Pack (1) for upright transportation and display of ornamental cultivated plants (4), comprising: a holder (2) of an at least partially open design in which ornamental cultivated plants (4) can be placed in an upright position; a lid (3) for covering the holder (2) ; a second pack (8) made of an ethylene-regulating material, which can be placed in the holder (2) , which second pack (8) can substantially enclose the ornamental cultivated plants (4) ; the holder (2) and the lid (3) being designed in such a way that the lid (3) can serve as a^' base for the holder (2) .

8. Pack (1) according to Claim 7, in which the second pack (8) has an ethylene absorption value of 0.7 - 14.00 ml/m²/day.

9. Pack (1) according to Claim 7 or 8, in which the second pack (8) is oxygen-transmitting.

10. Pack (1) according to one of the preceding Claims 7 - 9, in which said pack is provided with holes (12) for air circulation.

11. Pack (1) according to one of the preceding Claims 7 - 10, in which the lid (3) has sides which at least partially enclose the sides of the holder (2) when the pack (1) is substantially closed, and which have substantially the same dimensions as the abovementioned sides of the holder (2) .

12. Pack (1) according to one of the preceding Claims 7 - 11, in which the holder (2) and the lid (3) comprise connecting means (11) for fixing the holder (2) on the lid (3) when the lid (3) is being used as a base for the holder (2) .

13. Pack (1) according to Claim 12, in which the connecting means (11) are in the form of projecting lips for at least partial accommodation of the holder (2) .

14. Pack (1) according to one of Claims 7 - 13, in which the holder (2) has one or more at least partially removable sides.

15. Pack (1) according to one of Claims 7 - 14, provided with ornamental cultivated plants (4) .

16. Pack (1) according to one of Claims 7 - 15, provided with a nutrient medium (5) .

17. Pack (1) according to one of Claims 7 - 16, provided with a leaf-yellowing inhibitor (6) .

18. Pack (1) according to one of Claims 7 - 17, provided with a stem-growth inhibitor (7) .

19. Pack (1) according to one of Claims 7 - 18, provided with an ethylene-absorbing agent (9) .

20. Pack (1) according to one of Claims 7 - 19, provided with a perforation line (10) .

21. Use of the pack (1) according to one of Claims 7 - 20 for packaging ornamental cultivated plants (4) , preferably by the method according to one or more of Claims 1 - 6.

22. Use according to Claim 21 for packaging cut flowers, in particular tulips or irises.

23. Use according to Claim 21 or 22, in which the pack (1) is' used for transportation in a container.

24. Use according to Claim 21 or 22, in which the pack (1) is used for air transport.

25. Use of the pack (1) according to one or more of Claims 7 - 20 for displaying ornamental cultivated plants (4) , in particular cut flowers.