Container for growth of cryo-sprouts
AssigneeThe Vista Institute LLC
InventorDennis Lonergan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Containers for growth of sprouts are described. The covered containers have an air-permeable seal and may also have additional openings to increase the air permeability rate of the covered container. The air permeability rate is balanced to have sufficient air exchange but with an evaporation rate that is low enough to avoid addition of water during germination and growth of the cryo-sprouts. The seeds and sufficient water are added to the container and covered with a lid to form an air-permeable covered container. The seeds germinate and grow in the covered container at pathogen antagonistic temperature without the removal of the lid until use by consumer. This results in cryo-spouts in that have reduced numbers of pathogenic organisms, are greener and have an extended shelf-life.
Claims20
A covered container for cryo-sprouts comprising:
- a container comprising a membrane supported above the floor of the container on internal supports, a lid covering the container to form a covered container with an air-permeable seal, the covered container comprising seeds disposed on the membrane and water, wherein the air-permeable seal comprises openings above the water line, wherein the openings are configured for respiration and water evaporation during germination of seeds and growth into cryo-sprouts in the covered container.
A method of providing cryo-sprouts to a consumer comprising:
- placing seeds in a container, wherein the container comprises a membrane supported above the floor of the container on internal supports;
- adding water sufficient for seed germination and growth into cryo-sprouts;
- covering the container with a lid to form a covered container, wherein the covered container comprises an air-permeable seal for air permeability and evaporation of water, wherein the seeds are disposed on the membrane above the water or touching the water;
- incubating the covered container at a pathogen antagonistic temperature below about 45° F., wherein the air permeability rate and the water evaporation rate are at a rate sufficient for seed germination and growth into cryo-sprouts in the covered container without further addition of water during growth of cryo-sprouts.
A covered container comprising a container comprising a membrane supported above the floor of the container on internal supports, a lid covering the container to form a covered container, the covered container comprising cryo-sprouts disposed on the membrane, wherein the covered container comprises openings above the membrane, wherein the openings are configured for respiration and water evaporation during growth of the cryo-sprouts in the covered container, wherein seeds and water sufficient for germination of the seeds and growth into the cryo-sprouts are added prior to covering the container with a lid to form the covered container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.