In a solution cultivation method for a low potassium vegetable, an entire cultivation period from seeding to harvesting is divided into a first cultivation period and a second cultivation period depending on the vegetable to be cultivated. In the first cultivation period, the vegetable is cultivated in a first culture solution containing a first fertilizer for solution cultivation which contains potassium. In the second cultivation period, the vegetable is cultivated in a second culture solution containing a second fertilizer for solution cultivation which does not substantially contain potassium. During the second cultivation period, an air flow is applied at a controlled speed to the growing point of the vegetable.

A system and methodology for rehydrating perishable items (e.g., flowers, fresh food items, such as fruits, vegetables, other produce, and nuts) during storage and transportation thereof. The osmotic rehydration apparatus includes a pressurized chamber, a humidifier, an ozone generator, an electrostatic sprayer, a reservoir containing saline, and an air compressor. The perishable items are placed in the osmotic chamber under positive pressure. A film of saline solution is applied to the surface of the perishable items via an electrostatic sprayer. The saline/chlorine film on the perishable items is dried, and the osmotic chamber is saturated with ozone gas via an ozone generator. The osmotic chamber is then saturated with tiny pure water droplets via a humidifier or an electrostatic sprayer. The pressure within the chamber is raised to a pressure above atmospheric pressure. The osmotic chamber is then placed inside a cooler at a temperature slightly above freezing.

A system and methodology for rehydrating perishable items (e.g., flowers, fresh food items, such as fruits, vegetables, other produce, and nuts) during storage and transportation thereof. The osmotic rehydration apparatus includes a pressurized chamber, a humidifier, an ozone generator, an electrostatic sprayer, a reservoir containing saline, and an air compressor. The perishable items are placed in the osmotic chamber under positive pressure. A film of saline solution is applied to the surface of the perishable items via an electrostatic sprayer. The saline/chlorine film on the perishable items is dried, and the osmotic chamber is saturated with ozone gas via an ozone generator. The osmotic chamber is then saturated with tiny pure water droplets via a humidifier or an electrostatic sprayer. The pressure within the chamber is raised to a pressure above atmospheric pressure. The osmotic chamber is then placed inside a cooler at a temperature slightly above freezing.

A capture unit for use with an antimicrobial application unit may include an upstream filter and a downstream filter. The upstream filter may be positioned to receive effluent from the application unit and to filter solid components from the effluent. The resultant upstream effluent filtrate may then be passed downstream to the downstream filter. The downstream filter may be used to filter an antimicrobial component from the upstream effluent filtrate and the resultant downstream effluent filtrate may be suitable for disposal as wastewater discharge. The antimicrobial is preferably a quaternary ammonium compound, is more preferably an alkylpyridinium chloride, and is most preferably cetylpyridinium chloride.

A capture unit for use with an antimicrobial application unit may include an upstream filter and a downstream filter. The upstream filter may be positioned to receive effluent from the application unit and to filter solid components from the effluent. The resultant upstream effluent filtrate may then be passed downstream to the downstream filter. The downstream filter may be used to filter an antimicrobial component from the upstream effluent filtrate and the resultant downstream effluent filtrate may be suitable for disposal as wastewater discharge. The antimicrobial is preferably a quaternary ammonium compound, is more preferably an alkylpyridinium chloride, and is most preferably cetylpyridinium chloride.

A food processing apparatus includes a reaction tank having an internal space for storing a reactant that is in a liquid state and that is used for food, a cooler that cools a reactant stored in the reaction tank, and a catalytic reactor disposed in the internal space. The catalytic reactor includes a reaction tube, a light source disposed in the interior of the reaction tube, and a heat insulator disposed between the reaction tube and the light source. The outer surface of the reaction tube is provided with a photocatalyst. The reaction tube allows light radiated from the light source to pass therethrough. The reaction tube has a first end, and the first end is closed so as to serve as a bottom surface of the reaction tube. The thermal conductivity of the heat insulator is lower than the thermal conductivity of the reaction tube.

Described herein are methods of preparing cutin-derived monomers, oligomers, or combinations thereof from cutin-containing plant matter. The methods can include heating the cutin-derived plant matter in a solvent at elevated temperature and pressure. In some preferred embodiments, the methods can be carried out without the use of additional acidic or basic species.

Disclosed is system for inactivating bacteria and/or reducing microbial count on product, in particular a food product, susceptible to microbial presence, said system comprising a processing chamber which is operably connected to i) a means for generating UV-C light, ii) a means for generating hydrogen peroxide vapor and/or means for generating ozone, and iii) a heat source. Also disclosed is a method for inactivating bacteria and/or reducing microbial count on a product, in particular food product, which is susceptible to microbial presence, said method comprising subjecting said product in a processing chamber to exposure with ultraviolet C (UV-C) light and hydrogen peroxide vapor and/or ozone, and heat, for a processing time of between 5-120 seconds, wherein the hydrogen peroxide vapor is present at up to 12% v/v solution, and the temperature inside the processing chamber is maintained between about 22° C. and 60° C.

Disclosed is system for inactivating bacteria and/or reducing microbial count on product, in particular a food product, susceptible to microbial presence, said system comprising a processing chamber which is operably connected to i) a means for generating UV-C light, ii) a means for generating hydrogen peroxide vapor and/or means for generating ozone, and iii) a heat source. Also disclosed is a method for inactivating bacteria and/or reducing microbial count on a product, in particular food product, which is susceptible to microbial presence, said method comprising subjecting said product in a processing chamber to exposure with ultraviolet C (UV-C) light and hydrogen peroxide vapor and/or ozone, and heat, for a processing time of between 5-120 seconds, wherein the hydrogen peroxide vapor is present at up to 12% v/v solution, and the temperature inside the processing chamber is maintained between about 22° C. and 60° C.

Methods and apparatus for validating wash processes and related operations for food processing, including preventing undesirable deviations in such food processing. One example method for validating a process for a food processing system generally includes: operating the food processing system on a food product according to the process, wherein the operating is performed for at least a validation period; measuring a process metric at multiple times during the validation period while the food processing system is operating according to the process, wherein the measuring generates a set of process metric measurements; and determining whether the process for the food processing system is valid, based on the set of process metric measurements.