| Fresh Express, Inc. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20110247655 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SANITIZING PRODUCE IN AN ACIDIC BATH - Methods and systems are disclosed for treating a produce item with a treatment solution that includes water and a first and second treatment acid. The disclosed methods and systems may be particularly beneficial when used to sanitize the produce item of pathogens and/or to maintain the quality of the produce item. A disclosed treatment method includes measuring an amount of water; measuring an amount of a first treatment acid; measuring an amount of a second treatment acid; mixing the water, the first treatment acid, and the second treatment acid to form a treatment-solution concentrate; diluting a quantity of the treatment-solution concentrate to form a treatment solution; and contacting an exterior surface of the produce item with a quantity of the treatment solution. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110200730 | CIRCUMFERENTIAL PASTEURIZER - Circumferential pasteurizers and related methods are disclosed. A circumferential pasteurizer includes a vessel having an inner guide surface, a thermal medium inlet disposed on a first side of the vessel, a thermal medium outlet disposed on a second side of the vessel, a food product inlet disposed on the second side of the vessel, a food outlet disposed on the first side of the vessel, and a rotating paddle wheel suspended for rotation in the vessel. The paddle wheel includes a hub and a plurality of paddles distributed around the hub and extending outwardly therefrom to adjacent the vessel inner guide surface to form food receiving pockets extending the length of the hub. The paddle wheel conveys the food product from the food product inlet to the food product outlet along the vessel inner guide surface and counter to the flow of the thermal medium. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20090196969 | System and Method for Processing and Packaging of Fresh Fruit in a Controlled Environment Chamber - The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for fresh fruit processing that minimizes the exposure of the fruit to microbial contamination. The apparatus includes: a controlled environment chamber having an inlet portion configured to receive whole fruit and an outlet portion configured to deliver processed fresh fruit; a floor that is sloped downward from the inlet portion toward the outlet portion; an access portal on a lateral side of the controlled environment chamber, which is configured to provide access from the outside of the controlled environment chamber to the inside of the controlled environment chamber through a sealable barrier; an outlet portion having a container inlet that is configured to receive a container into the interior of the controlled environment chamber and a container outlet that is configured to deliver a container filled with processed fresh fruit out of the controlled environment chamber. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090196959 | Fresh Pineapple Spear Pasteurization Process and Product - A process for producing a fresh pineapple spear package product from fresh whole pineapple is disclosed. The process includes removing the crowns from the fresh whole pineapples; removing surface soil and microbial loads from the fresh whole pineapples; eliminating the rind from the fresh whole pineapples to form peeled fresh pineapples; eliminating the core from the fresh whole pineapples to form cored and peeled fresh pineapples; forming fresh pineapple spears from the cored and peeled fresh pineapples; packaging the fresh pineapple spears in sealed heat-resistant packages to form packaged fresh pineapple spears; and pasteurizing the fresh pineapple spears in the sealed heat-resistant packages to form the fresh pineapple spear package product. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090151749 | Method and Apparatus for Washing Fruits and Vegetables - One embodiment of the present invention includes an apparatus for washing a product with a fluid. The tank may receive a plurality of product, such as fruits and vegetables, into the fluid and be configured to receive a moving conveyor, having a first end, a second end, a first section, and a second section. The conveyor may have a plurality of protruding panels being structured and arranged on the conveyor to push the product through the fluid in the tank and to lift the product from the fluid in the tank to the second end of the conveyor. At least one first nozzle may be positioned substantially above the conveyor and configured to deliver the fluid onto the product as the product is pushed by the plurality of panels. The fluid delivered from the at least one first nozzle may rotate the product in the fluid in the tank. | 06-18-2009 |
