Controlled atmosphere package

An arrangement for maintaining a controlled environment around packaged food contents stored in an ambient environment, said arrangement comprising:

• lower and upper vented-environment packages, each of said lower and upper vented-environment packages including:
• a tray having a base and side walls extending upwardly from said base, said side walls and said base defining a cavity wherein food said contents are disposed, said base having a first opening and a first stacking means;
• and
• a lid detachably connected to a top portion of said side walls, said lid having a second opening and a second stacking means,
• wherein said lower vented-environment package and said upper vented-environment package are stackable when the first stacking means of said upper vented-environment package engages the second stacking means of said lower vented-environment package, the second opening on the lid of said lower vented-environment package being at least partially aligned with and directly adjacent to the first opening on said base of said upper vented-environment package and being simultaneously exposed to said ambient environment when said lower and upper vented-environment packages are stacked.

A food package for maintaining a modified atmosphere around perishable food contents contained therein when said food package is stored in an ambient environment, said food package comprising:

• a tray having a base and side walls extending upwardly from said base, said side walls and said base defining a cavity;
• perishable food disposed within said cavity;
• a membrane attached to a top portion of said side walls and enclosing said perishable food within said cavity;
• and
• a structural member detachably connected to said top portion of said side walls, said structural member being disposed above said membrane to prevent contact with an upper surface of said membrane, a region between said membrane and said structural member containing only air, said structural member forming a passageway to provide for communication between said region and said ambient environment.

An arrangement for maintaining a controlled environment around packaged contents stored in an ambient environment, said arrangement comprising:

• a first tray having a first base and first side walls extending upwardly from said first base, said first side walls and said first base defining a first cavity, said first base having a first opening and a first stacking means;
• a first group of perishable food disposed within said first cavity;
• a first lid detachably connected to a top portion of said first side walls, said first tray, said first group of perishable food and said first lid being an upper package;
• a second tray having a second base and second side walls extending upwardly from said second base, said second side walls and said second base defining a second cavity,
• a second group of perishable food disposed within said second cavity;
• a second lid detachably connected to a top portion of said second side walls;
• said second lid having a second opening and a second stacking means, said second tray, said second group of perishable food and said second first lid being a lower package;
• wherein said lower said upper packages are stackable when said first stacking means and second stacking means are engaged, said second opening on said lid of said lower package being at least partially aligned with and adjacent to said first opening on said first base of said upper package and being simultaneously exposed to said ambient environment when said lower and upper packages are stacked.

A package for maintaining a modified atmosphere around food contents, comprising:

• a tray having a base and at least one wall extending upwardly from said base, said at least one wall and said base defining a cavity for receiving said food contents;
• a membrane contacting said at least one wall and enclosing said cavity;
• a lid connected to said at least one wall, said lid and said membrane being separated from each other and defining a continuous gap therebetween above said cavity;
• and
• means for venting gases from said gap to an ambient environment.

A package for maintaining a modified atmosphere around food contents, comprising:

• a tray having a base and at least one wall extending upwardly from said base, said at least wall and said base defining a cavity for receiving said food contents;
• a membrane contacting said at least one wall and enclosing said cavity;
• a lid connected to said at least one wall, said lid and said membrane being separated from each other and defining a continuous gap therebetween above said cavity;
• and
• a passageway in communication with said gap adapted to replenish gases within said gap with gases from an ambient environment.

A package for maintaining a modified atmosphere around food contents, comprising:

• a tray having a base and at least one wall extending upwardly from said base, said at least one wall and said base defining a cavity for receiving said food contents;
• a membrane contacting said at least one wall and enclosing said cavity;
• and
• a lid connected to said at least one wall, said lid being separated from said membrane by a gap to prevent contact with a substantial portion of an upper surface of said membrane, said lid having a lid stacking element for mating with a corresponding stacking element of a package positioned thereabove, said lid being constructed such that said gap is in communication with an ambient environment when said lid stacking element mates with said corresponding stacking element.

A method of maintaining a modified atmosphere around food contents disposed in a tray, comprising:

• placing said food contents in said tray;
• providing a predetermined mixture of gases within said tray;
• sealing said tray with a permeable membrane capable of limiting the flow of specific gases from a lower surface of said membrane exposed to said food contents to an upper surface of said membrane;
• inhibiting contact with a substantial portion of said upper surface of said membrane;
• and
• venting said specific gases released from said upper surface of said membrane to an ambient environment.