Methods and Apparatus for Maintaining Fresh Quality and Safe Food Attributes of Minimally Processed Produce

Abstract

A system and method of maintaining the integrity of freshly harvested, or freshly cut fruits and vegetables. Specifically, the invention focuses on a distinct series of processes which confer a lower total microbial count, delay browning, improve general organoleptic properties, and decrease the amount of chemical contaminants on the exposed surfaces without the use of preservatives. Examples of such process may be applying a first produce integrity maintenance process, a second produce integrity maintenance process, application of an antibrowning agent to the produce by a produce antibrown agent applicator, exposing the produce to ultraviolet light by an ultraviolet light system, and applying an ozone treatment by an ozone treatment system.

1 - 79 . (canceled)  
   
   
       80 . A system for maintaining the integrity of produce comprising the steps of: 
 providing produce processing equipment configured to achieve a first overall treatment modality to maintain produce integrity;    altering said produce processing equipment to achieve a second overall treatment modality to maintain produce integrity;    making an input capability for at least one item of produce available to said produce processing equipment adapted to said second overall treatment modality to maintain product integrity;    making a transport capability for said at least one item of produce available within said produce processing equipment adapted to said second overall treatment modality to maintain product integrity;    establishing said second overall treatment modality to maintain product integrity as available within said produce processing equipment in response to said steps of making said input capability for said at least one item of produce available to said produce processing equipment adapted to said second overall treatment modality to maintain product integrity and making said transport capability for said at least one item of produce available within said produce processing equipment adapted to said second overall treatment modality to maintain product integrity; and    making an output capability for said at least one item of produce available to said produce processing equipment adapted to said second overall treatment modality to maintain produce integrity.    
   
   
       81 . A system for maintaining the integrity of produce as described in  claim 80  wherein one of said treatment modalities comprises the step of exposing said at least one item of produce to ultraviolet light.  
   
   
       82 . A system for maintaining the integrity of produce as described in  claim 80  wherein one of said treatment modalities comprises the step of applying an ozone treatment to said at least one item of produce.  
   
   
       83 . A system for maintaining the integrity of produce as described in  claim 80  wherein one of said treatment modalities comprises the step of applying an antibrowning agent to said at least one item of produce.  
   
   
       84 . A system for maintaining the integrity of produce as described in  claim 83  and further comprising the step of altering said produce processing equipment to achieve said step of applying said antibrowning agent to said at least one item of produce following said step of exposing to said at least one item of produce to said ultraviolet light.  
   
   
       85 - 88 . (canceled)  
   
   
       89 . A system for maintaining the integrity of produce as described in  claim 80  wherein said step of making said input capability for at least one item of produce available to said produce processing equipment adapted to said second overall treatment modality to maintain product integrity for produce comprises the step of making input capability for at least one mushroom.  
   
   
       90 . (canceled)  
   
   
       91 . A system for maintaining the integrity of produce as described in  claim 80  wherein said step of altering said produce processing equipment to achieve a second overall treatment modality to maintain produce integrity comprises the step of altering said produce processing equipment to equally expose the whole surface of said at least one item of produce during said second overall treatment modality.  
   
   
       92 . A system for maintaining the integrity of produce as described in  claim 80  wherein said step of altering said produce processing equipment to achieve a second overall treatment modality to maintain produce integrity comprises the step of altering said produce processing equipment to preferentially expose at least one selected surface of said at least one item of produce during said second overall treatment modality.  
   
   
       93 . A system for maintaining the integrity of produce as described in  claim 80  and further comprising the step of covering said at least one item of produce with an oxygen scavenging film during said second overall treatment modality.  
   
   
       94 . A system for maintaining the integrity of produce as described in  claim 80  wherein said step of establishing said second overall treatment modality to maintain product integrity as available within said produce processing equipment in response to said steps of making said input capability for said at least one item of produce available to said produce processing equipment adapted to said second overall treatment modality to maintain product integrity and making said a transport capability for said at least one item of produce available within said produce processing equipment adapted said second overall treatment modality to maintain product integrity comprises the step of increasing shelf life of said at least one item of produce.  
   
   
       95 . A system for maintaining the integrity of produce as described in  claim 82  and further comprising providing said ozone treatment having a pH about equal to a pH of tissue of said at least one item of produce.  
   
   
       96 . A system for maintaining the integrity of produce as described in  claim 81  wherein said step of altering said produce processing equipment comprises the step of altering said produce processing equipment to apply said step of exposing said at least one item of produce to ultraviolet light before said step of applying of said ozone treatment to said at least one item of produce.  
   
   
       97 . A system for maintaining the integrity of produce as described in  claim 81  and further comprising the step of exposing said at least one item of produce to a second ultraviolet light wherein said step of exposing said at least one item of produce to ultraviolet light occurs before said step of applying said ozone treatment to said at least one item of produce and said step of applying said ozone treatment to said at least one item of produce occurs before said step of exposing said at least one item of produce to a second ultraviolet light.  
   
   
       98 . A system for maintaining the integrity of produce as described in  claim 81  and further comprising the steps of: 
 applying a first ozone treatment to said at least one item of produce;    applying a second ozone treatment to said at least one item of produce;    exposing said at least one item of produce to a second ultraviolet light,    wherein said step of exposing said at least one item of produce to ultraviolet light occurs before said step of applying said first ozone treatment to said at least one item of produce and said step of applying said first ozone treatment to said at least one item of produce occurs before said step of applying said second ozone treatment to said at least one item of produce and said step of applying said second ozone treatment to said at least one item of produce occurs before said step of exposing said at least one item of produce to said second ultraviolet light.    
   
   
       99 - 107 . (canceled)  
   
   
       108 . A system for maintaining the integrity of produce as described in  claim 81  and further comprising the step of repositioning said at least one item of produce for said at least one process.  
   
   
       109 . A system for maintaining the integrity of produce as described in  claim 80  wherein said step of altering said produce processing equipment to achieve said second overall treatment modality to maintain produce integrity comprises the step of adding at least one spray bar in relation to said transport capability.  
   
   
       110 - 111 . (canceled)  
   
   
       112 . A system for maintaining the integrity of produce as described in  claim 80  and further comprising the step of altering said produce processing equipment to achieve removal of macrodebris from said at least one item of produce.  
   
   
       113 . A system for maintaining the integrity of produce as described in  claim 112  wherein said step of altering said produce processing equipment to achieve removal of said macrodebris from said at least one item of produce comprises the step of altering said produce processing equipment to treat said at least one item of produce in conjunction with a sieve-type element and removing macrodebris from produce through apertures in said sieve-type element.  
   
   
       114 . (canceled)  
   
   
       115 . A system for maintaining the integrity of produce as described in  claim 80  wherein said step of establishing said second overall treatment modality to maintain product integrity as available within said produce processing equipment in response to said steps of making said input capability for said at least one item of produce available to said produce processing equipment adapted to said second overall treatment modality to maintain product integrity and making said a transport capability for said at least one item of produce available within said produce processing equipment adapted said second overall treatment modality to maintain product integrity comprises the step of washing said at least one produce with a cleaning solution.  
   
   
       116 - 120 . (canceled)  
   
   
       121 . A system for maintaining the integrity of produce as described in  claim 80  wherein said step of providing produce processing equipment comprises the step of providing said produce processing equipment selected from the group consisting of providing a dip tank, providing a flume system, providing a overhead spray bar, providing a conveyor, providing a air knife, providing a overhead drench system, providing a vat, providing a vessel, providing an air compressor, providing an attendant electrical motor control center, providing a variable a frequency drive, providing a computer controlled electrical apparatus, providing a programmable logic controller, providing a pump, providing a hopper, providing a surge tank, and providing a storage tank.  
   
   
       122 - 372 . (canceled)