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.

The present invention relates to a device for forming a pattern on a surface of a fruiting vegetable and, more particularly, to a device which can be mounted on an immature fruiting vegetable without a separate fixing device, changes the shape thereof as the fruiting vegetable grows, and is capable of engraving a predetermined pattern on a surface of the immature fruiting vegetable so as to be clearly identified. A device for forming a pattern on a surface of a fruiting vegetable according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a member made of plastic, of an annular shape without a cut portion, having an inner surface and an outer surface, an opening defined by the inner surface, and a pattern formed on the inner surface of the member, wherein the member includes a first folded portion and a second folded portion; the inner surface of the member includes a first opposing surface and a second opposing surface that face each other due to the first folding portion and the second folding portion; the first opposing surface and the second opposing surface can be mounted on the surface of the fruiting vegetable by pressing both surfaces of the immature fruiting vegetable arranged on the opening by elasticity formed by the first folded portion and the second folded portion; and the shape of the member changes so as to correspond to the surface shape of the fruiting vegetable as the fruiting vegetable grows.

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.

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.

A device and method for altering biochrome ratios in plant leaves is provided. The device and method generally include 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.

A system for coordinated laser marking of mid-conveyance food includes a controller, multiple lasers, and one or more industrial components. The lasers are in network communication with the controller. The controller can send a first instruction set, having a first language, to a first laser, and a second instruction set, having a second language different from the first language, to a second laser, the first laser associated with a first conveyor of multiple conveyors, and the second laser associated with a second conveyor different from the first conveyor. During operation, the first laser applies a marking to a first product as the first product is conveyed along the first conveyor, based on the first instruction set. Also during operation, the second laser applies the marking to a second product as the second product is conveyed along the second conveyor, based on the second instruction set.

Starch-based edible coating compositions for preserving food products are disclosed. The starch-based coatings comprise both a polymerized starch, comprising intertwined amylopectin chains and/or amylose chains, and native (unmodified) and/or modified starch granules dispersed in a liquid carrier. When the starch granules are heated to a temperature to induce swelling, the swollen starch granules become embedded in the intertwined amylopectin and/or amylose chains, improving physical properties of the coating needed to extend shelf-life of food products. Also disclosed are coatings made from the coating compositions, methods of making the coatings, and methods of applying the coatings to food products.

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 trimming plants is described. Workers place individual plants separating individual plants from plant and non-plant matter. In one embodiment, an air curtain is directed to a falling mixture of plant and non-plant matter. The air directs some of the plant and non-plant material into a waste or recycling bin and permits further processing of individual plants. In another embodiment, individual plants are placed in a trim belt and then passed through a trimming station that trims the individual plants.