An apparatus has a trailer with one or more wheels and a connector that connects the trailer to an automotive machine that mobilizes the trailer from a first position to a second position within a field of one or more plants. Further, the apparatus has a branch trimming device operably positioned on the trailer. Additionally, the apparatus has a conveyer belt operably positioned on the trailer. The conveyer belt receives a trimmed plant that has one or more branches trimmed off by the branch trimming device. The apparatus also has one more cutting devices. Finally, the apparatus has a tumbler that receives the trimmed plant from the conveyer belt and rotates with respect to the one or more cutting devices to cut the trimmed plant into the one or more buds. A bottom portion of the tumbler is positioned in proximity to the one or more cutting devices.

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.

The present disclosure relates to a technical idea of infiltrating stevioside or a fragrant ingredient into a fruit or vegetable by using a high-voltage pulsed electric field, and a method for enhancing the sweetness according to an embodiment may comprise the steps of maintaining high-voltage pulse device electrodes installed on at least two sides in a container containing a solution in which a natural sugar or a substance for fragrance is dissolved, injecting an object of the fruit or vegetable between the high-voltage pulse device electrodes, receiving an alternating current from the high-voltage pulse device electrodes to convert the alternating current into a high-voltage direct current, and storing the high-voltage direct current in a capacitor, which is an energy storage device, to charge energy, generating a high-voltage pulsed electric field (PEF) by discharging the charged energy from the high-voltage pulse device electrodes using a pulse generating circuit when the injected object is sensed, forming a potential difference in cell membranes of the object with the generated high-voltage pulsed electric field, and allowing the solution to permeate between the generated perforations of the cell membranes by maintaining the state in which the potential difference is formed for a predetermined time until perforations are generated in the cell membranes of the object.

A scent imparting apparatus transmits to an information management apparatus, product information that includes added-substance information indicating a first substance that is a scented substance added to a plant and production information regarding the plant. The information management apparatus stores the received product information in a production information storage unit. A scent detecting apparatus detects a second substance that is at least one of the scented substance or a metabolite of the scented substance released from a target plant, and transmits detected-substance information indicating the second substance to the information management apparatus. The information management apparatus transmits to the scent detecting apparatus, in a case where the second substance indicated by the received detected-substance information is the same as the first substance indicated by the added-substance information included in the product information stored in the production information storage unit or is the same as a metabolite of the first substance, the production information included in the product information stored in the production information storage unit. The scent detecting apparatus presents the received production information.

Described herein are industrial application systems for treating (e.g., forming protective coatings on) produce, agricultural products, or other items. An exemplary application system can include a bed comprising a plurality of rollers, one or more sprayers over a first portion of the bed, one or more blowers over a second portion of the bed, a mixing system configured to prepare a mixture comprising a coating agent in a solvent, and a liquid delivery system connected inline between the mixing system and the one or more sprayers. Items placed on the bed can have the mixture applied to their surfaces via the one or more sprayers, after which the one or more blowers can at least partially remove the solvent from the surfaces of the perishable items, thereby causing the protective coatings to be formed over the perishable items.

An apparatus has a trailer with one or more wheels and a connector that connects the trailer to an automotive machine that mobilizes the trailer from a first position to a second position within a field of one or more plants. Further, the apparatus has a branch trimming device operably positioned on the trailer. Additionally, the apparatus has a conveyer belt operably positioned on the trailer. The conveyer belt receives a trimmed plant that has one or more branches trimmed off by the branch trimming device. The apparatus also has one more cutting devices. Finally, the apparatus has a tumbler that receives the trimmed plant from the conveyer belt and rotates with respect to the one or more cutting devices to cut the trimmed plant into the one or more buds. A bottom portion of the tumbler is positioned in proximity to the one or more cutting devices.

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.

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.

An apparatus and method for increasing Vitamin D content in mushrooms is disclosed. A mushroom slurry of comminuted or pulverized mushrooms or mushroom parts and liquid, such as water, is passed under a UV light source. The slurry may be conveyed to the UV light source by a vibrating conveyor. After UV light exposure, the treated slurry may be dried and ground into a powder, or the treated slurry may be filtered and the insoluble portion may be dried and ground into a powder. The irradiated mushroom powder has a mass fraction of Vitamin D2 of at least 2500 IU/gram of powder, and more preferably at least 20,000 IU/gram of powder. Irradiated mushroom powder may be incorporated into consumable food product for humans or animals, and/or may be incorporated into topical preparations for cosmetic use.