A method of preserving freshness of a harvested crop includes irradiating the harvested crop with blue light and misting the harvested crop with water mist while irradiating the harvested crop with the blue light.

A method of preserving freshness of a harvested crop includes irradiating the harvested crop with blue light and misting the harvested crop with water mist while irradiating the harvested crop with the blue light.

This invention relates to a seaweed processing plant, more specifically a portable seaweed processing plant. The portable seaweed processing plant comprises a shipping container having a substantially rectangular cuboid shaped body with at least one releasably securable door to provide access to and from the interior of the container. The container is configured for transport on an articulated chassis. The shipping container houses a remotely monitored seaweed processing line including a seaweed washing station, a seaweed preprocessing station, a seaweed separation station to separate the seaweed into liquid seaweed and solid seaweed, and a seaweed packing station to pack the liquid seaweed and the solid seaweed for onward transport. In this way, the yield from the harvest is optimized, additional products are harvested, and the quality of the harvest is superior than would otherwise be the case.

A stationary slicing head assembly for use with a centrifugal slicing machine for cutting vegetables into slices. The assembly includes a plurality of slicing shoes serially arranged around an impeller having an axis of rotation. A first end of each slicing shoe is positioned adjacent to a second end of a juxtaposed slicing shoe. A plurality of serially arranged knife blades, each knife blade being secured to the first end of a slicing shoe, wherein each knife blade has a cutting edge/has a cutting edge profile defined with respect to the shape of the cutting edge defining a two-dimensional shape of a cut surface produced by the cutting edge. Some of the knife blades are first knife blades which have a first profile, and second knife blades have a second profile. The arrangement of the first and second knife blades configured to cut first and second slices from a vegetable.

A stationary slicing head assembly for use with a centrifugal slicing machine for cutting vegetables into slices. The assembly includes a plurality of slicing shoes serially arranged around an impeller having an axis of rotation. A first end of each slicing shoe is positioned adjacent to a second end of a juxtaposed slicing shoe. A plurality of serially arranged knife blades, each knife blade being secured to the first end of a slicing shoe, wherein each knife blade has a cutting edge/has a cutting edge profile defined with respect to the shape of the cutting edge defining a two-dimensional shape of a cut surface produced by the cutting edge. Some of the knife blades are first knife blades which have a first profile, and second knife blades have a second profile. The arrangement of the first and second knife blades configured to cut first and second slices from a vegetable.

In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises: (1) a box with specifically designed blades for cutting; (2) a motor for rotating the blades over each other; (3) a sweeper mechanism to gently move the flowers around the enclosure blade; and, (4) a brush mechanism to gently tumble flowers over the blade surface.

Systems and methods are provided for separating seed from wet material. The method includes aerating raw, wet material comprising seed to provide an aerated material and aspirating the aerated material. The aspirating separates seed from liftings of the aerated material, and the separated seed can then be recovered.

A two stage system for extraction of oil from whole citrus fruit is provided. The first stage is known in the art and includes a first plurality of toothed rollers which convey citrus as the teeth penetrate and rupture oil glands. The oil passes into a first water pan. A novel second stage uses a second plurality of toothed rollers to continue the penetration and rupturing of oil glands. The second plurality of rollers are positioned in an isolated second pan to partially submerge the citrus. A middle phase liquor with extremely low oil concentration is transferred into said second pan to initiate desorption of oil from the citrus. The desorption technique in one embodiment increases yield by 4% or more. This technique is expected to increase yield even more as the recovery by the first stage is reduced.

A two stage system for extraction of oil from whole citrus fruit is provided. The first stage is known in the art and includes a first plurality of toothed rollers which convey citrus as the teeth penetrate and rupture oil glands. The oil passes into a first water pan. A novel second stage uses a second plurality of toothed rollers to continue the penetration and rupturing of oil glands. The second plurality of rollers are positioned in an isolated second pan to partially submerge the citrus. A middle phase liquor with extremely low oil concentration is transferred into said second pan to initiate desorption of oil from the citrus. The desorption technique in one embodiment increases yield by 4% or more. This technique is expected to increase yield even more as the recovery by the first stage is reduced.

A device and method for altering biochrome ratios in plant leaves is provided. The device and method generally include a a light source; and means of directing the light source to deliver an altering spectrum to a group of cells. The altering spectrum alters the biochrome content of a group of cells to produce a contrasting color that creates a desired pattern on a leaf.

The device may include a first light source that emits a main growth spectrum, a second light source that emits an altering spectrum; and means of directing the first and second light source to a group of cells, wherein the altering spectrum alters the biochrome content of a group of cells to create a desired pattern on a leaf. Methods of altering the biochrome ratio in a group of cells on a leaf generally involve aligning a surface of a leaf with a light source, activating the light source to produce an altering spectrum, and directing the altering spectrum towards the leaf to create a pattern, wherein cells of the leaf exposed to the altering spectrum exhibit a desired pattern.