Process for preserving apples in a package containing an ethylene absorbent and deoxidant

Claim 1

A process for preserving apples comprising the steps of: (a) providing a resilient bag for containing the apples; (b) placing in the bag an ethylene absorbent and a deoxidant, each in an amount such that ethylene produced by the apples is absorbed and ethylene biosynthesis is suppressed for maintaining the freshness of the apples when the apples are placed within the bag; (c) placing the apples within the bag; (d) sealing the open portion of the bag containing the apples, the ethylene absorbent, and the deoxidant, the sealed bag allowing air to permeate therethrough to a degree such that the minimum amount of air necessary for the apples is supplied in the presence of the ethylene absorbent and the deoxidant; (e) providing a case having a front plate, a rear plate and side walls, said front plate having a plurality of spaced openings of a size sufficient to allow said apples to go through; (f) placing said sealed bag containing said applies, ethylene absorbent, and deoxidant on said rear plate of said case; and (g) covering said front plate of said case over said sealed bag and said rear plate so that the front plate depresses the bag between the apples towards the rear plate with resilient deformation so that each apple disposed in said bag partly projects from one of said openings respectively and is stationarily supported in said bag by the resilient deformation of the bag.