Package for perishable food and horticultural products

A system of packaging fresh horticultural products for manual transportation, the system comprising:

• a receptacle;
• a controlled atmosphere product receiving container having an interior and an exterior and being positioned in the receptacle, the container restricting the exchange of gases between products within the container and the exterior of the container to provide a modified atmosphere environment therein of an increased carbon dioxide concentration and a decreased oxygen concentration relative to carbon dioxide concentration and oxygen concentration in air when the container is closed, the container providing a controlled rate of gas flow between the interior and exterior thereof when the container is closed;
• a cooling element positioned within the receptacle and exteriorly of the container for cooling the container to thereby cool products in the container;
• and
• means for applying a vacuum to the container and cooling element so as to evaporate liquid from horticultural products within the container to cool the horticultural products within the container.

A system of packaging fresh horticultural products which are harvested in a field where they are growing, the system comprising:

• a receptacle;
• a cooling element positioned within the receptacle for cooling product placed in the receptacle, wherein the receptacle, cooling element and product packed therein are sized for manual transportation by a single individual in the field;
• and
• a means for applying a vacuum to the receptacle, cooling element and product placed in the receptacle to accelerate the cooling of such product.