System and method of processing produce

A de-stemming apparatus for de-stemming produce having a pod, a stem, and a calyx, comprising:

• a first conveyor unit having a first belt that conveys the pod, the first conveyor unit having a top surface;
• a second conveyor unit having a second belt, the second conveyor unit disposed at an angle of greater than zero and less than 60 degrees relative to the top surface of the first conveyor unit;
• a third conveyor unit having a third belt that engages the pod between the top surface of the first conveyor unit and a bottom surface of the third conveyor unit, at least a portion of the third conveyor unit disposed with the bottom surface of the third conveyor unit in parallel with at least a portion of the top surface of the first conveyor unit to define an opening to engage the pod between the bottom surface of the third conveyor unit and the top surface of the first conveyor unit;
• a fourth conveyor unit having a fourth belt that engages the stem between a top surface of the second conveyor unit and a bottom surface of the fourth conveyor unit;
• and
• at least one driving unit that:
• drives at least one of the first conveyor unit, the second conveyor unit, the third conveyor unit, and the fourth conveyor unit to convey the produce from a first point of the de-stemming apparatus to a second point of the de-stemming apparatus, and
• generates a separation force between the pod and the stem that separates at least a portion of the stem and at least a portion of the calyx from the pod during conveyance of the produce between the first point and the second point, with the pod disposed in the opening between the bottom surface of the third conveyor unit and the top surface of the first conveyor unit and with the stem engaged by the fourth conveyor unit between the top surface of the second conveyor unit and the bottom surface of the fourth conveyor unit during at least a portion of the conveyance of the produce between the first point and the second point.