Packaging of fresh fruit and vegetables

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In order further to illustrate the present invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing which shows diagrammatically and by way of example a section through a package of strawberries.
Referring now to the accompanying drawing there is shown a package of strawberries 1.
The package comprises a rigid flanged tray 2 formed of moulded fibre and having a thin lining 3 of 80 microns thick, comprising PVC/ionomer, adhered to the fibre.
The tray has a lid 4 in accordance with Example 1 above and comprising a film 5 of polymethylpentene 50 microns thick, a layer 6 of polyurethane primer and an acrylic coating 7.
The lid is heat sealed to the flange 8 of the tray 2.
The lid has an oxygen transmission of 24300 cc/m.
sup.
2 /d/atm at 25.
degree.
C.
and as a result of the presence of the lid an optimum equilibrium atmosphere, which is rich in carbon dioxide and poor in oxygen as compared with the ambient air, is set up within the package and this serves to retard spoilage, mould growth and deterioration in flavour and/or texture of the strawberries.
In order to make the package shown in the drawing, moulded pulp trays may be lined with the lining 3 in a thermo-forming operation in which a film of the lining 3 is heated and drawn into the tray by vacuum in conventional manner.
The trays are then filled with strawberries, or other produce and covered with a film of the lid 4 which is heat-sealed to the flange of the tray.