Cooling mechanism for use with a food processing system

A method of cooling food product in a cooler, the cooler including:

• a compartment,
• a conduit including a first end portion configured to be in communication with the compartment and a second end portion, a fluid discharge positioned substantially within the conduit between the first end portion and the second end portion, and a pump in communication with and for supplying fluid through the fluid discharge, the method comprising the acts of:
• receiving food product into the compartment;
• discharging fluid through the fluid discharge to move food product from the first end portion of the conduit toward the second end portion the food product being at a first product temperature when entering the first end portion without the food product passing through the pump and without the food product passing through the fluid discharge, the fluid being at a first fluid temperature less than the first product temperature;
• and
• cooling the food product n owing through the conduit to a temperature below the first product temperature.