A self-contained, consumer-ready product from a coconut that has a seed-case, a layer of coconut meat inside of the seed-case, and an internal cavity containing sterile coconut water, in a condition that is ready for a consumer to access and remove the sterile water within the coconut, and a method for providing such a product. One method comprises forming an aperture that extends through the seed-case of the coconut but does not extend through the layer of coconut meat; forming a coconut pre-product in a first location, by affixing to the apertured coconut a closure member that is adapted to close the aperture and to be easily removed by a consumer in a second location different from the first location; and providing a self-contained, consumer-ready coconut product, by associating, with the coconut pre-product, a pre-selected plunger member that includes an elongated lance member that the consumer slides within the aperture after removal of the closure member in the second location and penetrates through the layer of coconut meat and into the internal cavity containing the sterile water.

This disclosure concerns methods and compositions for identifying canola plants that have a low fiber content trait. Some embodiments concern a chromosomal interval and a quantitative trait locus associated with low fiber content in canola plants or germplasm. Some embodiments concern molecular markers to identify, select, and/or construct low fiber content canola plants and germplasm, or to identify and counter-select plants with relatively higher fiber content. This disclosure also concerns canola plants comprising a low fiber content trait that are generated by methods utilizing at least one marker described herein.

A process for the production of a nest-shaped food product containing strips of a dried vegetable, preferably a garden vegetable, storable at room temperature for at least 7 days is disclosed. The process involves providing at least one fresh vegetable which has been previously washed, cutting the vegetable into strips, feeding the vegetable strips in metered amounts into a perforated mold, subjecting the strips to a stabilization heat treatment by means of saturated steam, drying the thermally stabilized strips by means of a flow of hot air so as to obtain a nest containing dried strips of vegetable with a moisture content of between 8% and 16% by weight of their total weight. The invention also concerns a nest-shaped food product which is obtained by means of the process and which may optionally contain strips of durum wheat semolina pasta.

An electromechanical double-bladed fruit and vegetable peeling and cutting machine comprising a holding mechanism (1), a peeling mechanism (2), and a cutting mechanism (3) sequentially provided in a direction of fruit and vegetable processing. The holding mechanism receives and holds a fruit or vegetable, and pushes the fruit or vegetable toward the peeling mechanism for positioning. The peeling mechanism performs positioning, measures actual cutting height of the fruit or vegetable, and adaptively peels the fruit or vegetable by means of two peeling blades. The cutting mechanism removes a top and a bottom portion of the peeled fruit or vegetable, and cuts the fruit or vegetable into pieces. A processing method for the electromechanical double-bladed fruit and vegetable peeling and cutting machine is also disclosed, and comprises: using a holding mechanism to hold and fix a fruit or vegetable in a processing position; using a peeling structure to accurately measure the height of the fruit or vegetable to be processed; using two peeling blades to efficiently and adaptively peel the fruit or vegetable; and finally engaging a pushing cylinder (27), to sequentially push multiple fruits and vegetables toward a cutting blade (37) such that the fruits and vegetables are cut into pieces. A third telescopic cylinder participates in the processing steps by pushing cutting blades such that the bottoms and the tops of the fruits and vegetables are removed. The invention reduces processing time, and improves productivity.

A baked food composition is provided that exhibits an unexpectedly loose, crunchy texture and multi-textural chew. The baked composition comprises a high amount of expanded inclusions and shredded root vegetable, which are agglomerated by a binder component comprising low amounts of oil, added sugar, and flour. The food composition is preferably free of hydrocoiloid gums and sugar syrups.

The present disclosure features dried vegetable noodles having an increased shelf life and methods of making dehydrated vegetable noodles. The noodles are dry, shelf stable cut vegetable noodles (cut from whole produce, not extruded) and are lower in carbohydrate calories and higher in nutritional value than traditional grain-based noodles. The process results in a food safe, extended shelf stable singularized noodle that is nutritious, convenient and versatile.

High quality, portable, convenient, nutritious, packaged food products are provided, as well as processes for preparing packaged food products. Packaged food products comprise wet food systems of hydrated high β-glucan cereal acidified with acid or acid solutions having a pKa in a range of 1.9-2.2. This product can include non-citrus fruit, vegetable, and/or hydrated mucilaginous seeds mixed with hydrated, acidified high β-glucan cereal. Also, packaged food products comprise wet food systems of vegetable, or vegetable and non-citrus fruit acidified with acid or acid solutions having a pKa in a range of 1.9-2.2. This product can be packed in 100% juice or with other ingredients including sweeteners, flavors, and non-dairy milk, amongst others. High β-glucan cereal, non-citrus fruit, and/or vegetables formulated with packaged food products retain texture, flavor, color, and visual appearance after commercial processing and during storage.

An in vitro meat having non-decellularized leaf scaffold and a method for producing an in vitro meat using non-decellularized leaf scaffold are described herein. The method includes preparing a non-decellularized plant leaf and incubating the leaf in a cell culture media to obtain a non-decellularized leaf scaffold; seeding the leaf scaffold with a population of muscle cells to obtain a leaf scaffold adhered population of muscle cells; and growing the leaf scaffold adhered population of muscle cells in cell culture media thereby obtaining the in vitro meat.

An acetic acid-containing seasoning liquid includes acetic acid; at least one free amino acid selected from nine kinds of free amino acid groups consisting of valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, histidine, lysine, and arginine; and a free amino acid other than the free amino acid groups. The acetic acid is contained in an amount of 0.1% by mass or more. A total content mass ratio of the nine kinds of free amino acid groups to total free amino acids is in a range of 0.20 to 0.70. A content mass ratio of the total free amino acids to the acetic acid is in a range of 0.01 to 0.30.

Provided herein are methods relating to ultraviolet irradiation of apples to improve their color and safety. The methods allow harvesting apples at optimum maturity, without having to delay waiting for color. The methods result in a significant increase in red skin coloration and suppression of L. monocytogenes without impairing fruit quality attributes during commercial storage.