Fresh Express, Inc.

Other

Richard S Brown

Eugene D Rizzo

Bennett W Brown

Michael V Brown

A gas mixing system and method designed to flush produce with a gas-air mixture of desired oxygen concentration to preserve the produce. The produce is placed in a vacuum vessel, which is then evacuated to a desired degree. Atmospheric air is provided to the vacuum vessel via an air valve, and nitrogen gas is provided to the vacuum vessel via a gas valve. A valve controller operates in a first mode wherein the air valve is a fully open master valve and the gas valve is a partially or fully open slave valve, and operates in a second mode wherein the gas valve is a fully open master valve and the air valve is a partially or fully open slave valve. The system automatically switches between the two modes to accommodate changing conditions, to maintain the desired oxygen concentration in the gas-air mixture. Multiple modes are possible with greater numbers of valves.

Gas flush mixing system and method

Systems and methods for harvesting fresh produce using a produce harvesting apparatus wherein the method includes trimming the fresh produce and placing the trimmed produce into a container. The container is placed onto a transport device located on the produce harvesting apparatus. The container is then transported on the transport device to a wash station and it is washed at the wash station. The container may be shaken during transport after the wash station.

Systems and methods for harvesting fresh produce

An apparatus and method for washing a plurality of cored lettuce heads as they are harvested in the field is disclosed. The apparatus incorporates a multi-segment hinged conveyer forming a loop, at least one support platform having an opening, at least one lettuce head guide connected to the support platform and an aqueous solution spraying system. Workers harvest lettuce heads, core the lettuce heads and then place them on the lettuce head guides which are moving along the conveyer. The lettuce heads are conveyed to an aqueous solution spraying system which washes the cored areas of the lettuce heads. The lettuce heads are then removed from the conveyer into a produce bin.

Apparatus and methods for washing the cored areas of lettuce heads during harvest

A closure system for attachment to and use in gas flushing a container of fresh produce includes a body portion, a closure connected to the body portion, and a pressure-sensitive mechanism connected to the body portion and to the closure that moves the closure to an open position or to a closed position, depending on the pressure exerted on said mechanism.

Methods and apparatus for vacuum/gas flush treatment of fresh produce

Methods for processing freshly harvested leafy produce, fruits and vegetables comprising cutting such produce, fruits and vegetables from their growth sites, removing the cores of the produce as necessary, positioning the produce, fruits and vegetables to allow their natural juices to exude from the cutting and coring sites for a time sufficient to permit substantially all the free-flowing natural juices at or near such sites to exude, and then washing the coring site to remove the exuded natural juices.

Method for processing freshly harvested leafy vegetables and subdivided, peeled fruit

A container for fresh produce including a base unit with a bottom wall and four to eight side walls and a sleeve with four to eight side walls that fits frictionally within the base unit. The base unit has a height that is at least about twenty-five percent the height of the sleeve.

Container for freshly harvested respiring, leafy produce

Methods for vacuum gas flush treatment of fresh produce

Apparatus for washing a cored head of lettuce includes a lettuce head guide that fits into the cored hole of a cored lettuce head; the guide is attached to a support that has an opening through which the guide projects, and, beneath the guide, a system that delivers a wash spray into the cored hole.

Apparatus and methods for washing cores of cored lettuce heads

A method for washing cored heads of lettuce includes placing such heads in a position with their cored holes facing downwardly toward an upwardly-directed spray of an aqueous solution, directing such a spray into, and washing the holes, then pushing the heads from that position onto a conveyor.

Methods for washing cores of cored lettuce heads

Methods and apparatus for packaging whole or partially processed bulk, fresh products under modified atmosphere including placing such produce into bags or other containers for the produce, attaching to the opening at the top of each of the bags or containers a tube having an openable and closable lid, placing the bags or other containers with the tubes attached thereto inside a vacuum chamber, withdrawing air from the vacuum chamber from the bags or other containers until the oxygen concentration in the bags or other containers has reached a desired level, refilling the bags or other containers with one or more gases other than air while restoring the pressure inside the vacuum chamber and outside the bags or other containers at rates sufficient to minimize crushing or bruising of produce in the bags or other containers as the pressure in the vacuum chamber rises from the reduced level to a desired, ambient level.

Apparatus for cooling and packaging bulk fresh products

A method for washing a cored head of lettuce includes placing the head in a position such that the cored hole faces downwardly, spraying an aqueous solution upwardly into the cored hole for a time and at a pressure sufficient to wash the hole, and then propelling the cored washed lettuce head upwardly from the washing position onto a conveyor for the lettuce head with minimal damage to that head.

Method for washing cores of cored lettuce heads

A packaging system for fresh produce such as fresh lettuce and like food products. The packaging system relies upon a quadrilaterally shaped, fairly rigid paperboard container having more than four corner portions therein and with an inner liner used for the storage and transport of produce, such as lettuce heads. In a preferred embodiment, the containers are octagonally shaped with four rectangularly shaped elongate walls connected at their corner portions by four relatively short angularly located connecting walls. Portions of these containers, and particularly the expensive side walls, are capable of being reused. Moreover, they are uniquely adapted for storage and transport in stacked relationship and also are designed so as to fit upon conventional pallets.

Fresh produce container system

A container system which is environmentally controlled for the packaging and shipment of vegetables, and particularly of lettuce, such as iceberg lettuce. The packaging relies upon a reusable paperboard container which is of a polygonal shape, such as an octagonal shape, providing a large number of corner margins which afford strength in stacking of like containers on pallets. A plastic liner is disposed within the paperboard container and receives the vegetables such as the heads of lettuce. This liner is evacuated through a small incision made in the liner and the liner is sealed, or the former air atmosphere is replaced with a modified atmosphere, such as a high carbon monoxide concentration or nitrogen atmosphere, and thereafter, the opening is sealed. The modified atmosphere precludes the oxidation and deterioration of the lettuce or other vegetable product. In a more preferred embodiment, a pair of plastic liners, comprising inner and outer liners, are employed. When the inner liner is filled, the pair of liners are then rolled over and sealed. A small incision is made in the inner liner in order to evacuate the air from the environment in which the lettuce is held. Thereafter, the small opening used for evacuating the air is sealed. The same procedure takes place with the second or outer liner in that it is evacuated and charged with a modified carbon monoxide or nitrogen atmosphere and the opening thereof sealed. In this way, if there is a leak in the inner liner, the lettuce or other vegetable will only be exposed to the modified carbon monoxide or nitrogen atmosphere and not oxygen which causes a very rapid deterioration of the vegetables. Leakage through the outer liner will not injure the vegetables as long as the inner liner remains secure and intact.

Method of packaging lettuce for storing and shipping

An environmentally sealed packaging system for the storage and transport of vegetables which relies upon one or more plastic bags and which may be contained in suitable paperboard containers. The plastic bags are usually of a large size and have a substantial thickness in order to withstand the rigors of transport and storage. Nevertheless, they are flexible and foldable. When produce, and particularly vegetables such as lettuce, is stored in the plastic bags, the upper ends are sealed by engaging two opposed outer side walls and rolling the two outer side walls together to form an enlarged roll. The ends of the roll are then folded inwardly and secured to the top in order to seal the opposite transverse ends. The rolling of the bags effectively seals the two sides together and with the folding of the ends the interior of the bag is then sealed. A releasable tape is then secured to the folded-in ends and to the roll in order to thereby hold the bag in a closed condition. When it is desired to reopen the bags, it is only necessary to peel the tape from the plastic bags. Various modes of tape placement are disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Chualar, CA, United States of America

Richard S Brown