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.

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.

The invention relates to a method and apparatus of tempering an organic product in an enclosed structure using a liquid maintained at a predefined temperature. The method includes, introducing the organic product through at least one access means of the enclosed structure into the liquid, circulating the liquid from the enclosed structure through a heating unit and back into the enclosed structure to increase a temperature of the liquid up to a predefined temperature, and supplying a gaseous substance into the enclosed structure for a predefined time period based on a temperature of the liquid in the enclosed structure. The organic product is removed through the access means of the enclosed structure when a core temperature of the organic product reaches the predefined temperature.

The invention relates to a method and apparatus of tempering an organic product in an enclosed structure using a liquid maintained at a predefined temperature. The method includes, introducing the organic product through at least one access means of the enclosed structure into the liquid, circulating the liquid from the enclosed structure through a heating unit and back into the enclosed structure to increase a temperature of the liquid up to a predefined temperature, and supplying a gaseous substance into the enclosed structure for a predefined time period based on a temperature of the liquid in the enclosed structure. The organic product is removed through the access means of the enclosed structure when a core temperature of the organic product reaches the predefined temperature.

Methods and apparatus for electrostatic dispensing fluid onto food products are disclosed. An electrostatic dispense system includes a material supply, a voltage block, and a power supply to electrostatically charge a coating material. The electrostatic dispense system further includes a dispense assembly, a conveyor through or by which a food product is configured to be conveyed, and a support that supports at least one liquid outlet of the dispense assembly. The dispense assembly dispenses the electrostatically charged coating material from the at least one liquid outlet onto the food product. The voltage block provides electrical isolation, and includes a pump that pumps the electrostatically charged coating material to the dispense assembly.

Methods and apparatus for electrostatic dispensing fluid onto food products are disclosed. An electrostatic dispense system includes a material supply, a voltage block, and a power supply to electrostatically charge a coating material. The electrostatic dispense system further includes a dispense assembly, a conveyor through or by which a food product is configured to be conveyed, and a support that supports at least one liquid outlet of the dispense assembly. The dispense assembly dispenses the electrostatically charged coating material from the at least one liquid outlet onto the food product. The voltage block provides electrical isolation, and includes a pump that pumps the electrostatically charged coating material to the dispense assembly.

A conveyor system and related methods of operation for using two or more conveyors to treat at least two separate sides of food items with a chemical intervention solution. The conveyor system can include two or more conveyors arranged in an angled relationship relative to a horizontal plane such that a first side of a food material is presented on a first conveyor and a second side of the food material is presented on a second conveyor. A chemical intervention system including two or more spray assemblies can apply a suitable chemical intervention solution to the first and second sides of food. The two or more conveyors can be arranged at an angle from 20-45 degrees relative to a common horizontal plane.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an auger dip apparatus for the application of antimicrobial solution to raw food. Embodiments of the present disclosure may use an auger as a single moving part to move the food work pieces through the application area for antimicrobial solution. Embodiments of the present disclosure are simple with only one moving auger part to move the food pieces, and the bearing for the moving part, supporting the shaft of the auger, may be configured to be outside of the cabinet with the reservoir of the antimicrobial solution, so that the bearing is not in contact with the antimicrobial solution. This provides for less maintenance and downtime, particularly unscheduled downtime, than a system using more complicated exposed parts. The present disclosure also permits a more compact and lighter configuration for an assembled application unit.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an auger dip apparatus for the application of antimicrobial solution to raw food. Embodiments of the present disclosure may use an auger as a single moving part to move the food work pieces through the application area for antimicrobial solution. Embodiments of the present disclosure are simple with only one moving auger part to move the food pieces, and the bearing for the moving part, supporting the shaft of the auger, may be configured to be outside of the cabinet with the reservoir of the antimicrobial solution, so that the bearing is not in contact with the antimicrobial solution. This provides for less maintenance and downtime, particularly unscheduled downtime, than a system using more complicated exposed parts. The present disclosure also permits a more compact and lighter configuration for an assembled application unit.

Systems and methods for providing food intervention, pumping up, and tenderization are discussed. While such systems can include any suitable component, in some cases, they include a needleless spray nozzle head that injects injectate into food without requiring the head to contact the food. In some cases, the head comprises an elongated needleless spray bar that defines multiple internal fluid channels that extend from a first end to a second end of the spray bar. In some cases, the head comprises a manifold system with a first manifold portion at the first end and a second manifold portion at the second end of the spray bar. In some cases, the first manifold portion directs the injectate towards the second end, and the second manifold portion directs the injectate towards the first end of the elongated needleless spray bar. Other implementations are described.