A method for prolonging the shelf life of agricultural and food products is provided, especially fruit and vegetables, which method comprises forcing a stream of air to flow upwardly through a treatment zone, such that it comes into contact with a stream of an aqueous salt solution having Redox potential of not less than 200 mV on a substantially horizontally aligned perforated surface, thereby forming a layer of bubbling liquid located above said surface, and delivering the treated air which exits said treatment zone into a storage room in which said agricultural or food products are placed.
