Methods, apparatuses, and systems for the removal of peels from agricultural produce

A method comprising:

• a. a conditioning step comprising exposing an agricultural produce to one of the group consisting of steam, water, and combinations thereof, to improve the permeability of a peel of said produce;
• b. an application step comprising applying a lye solution to a surface of said peel, said lye comprising one of the group consisting of sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide;
• c. a reaction step comprising exposing said produce to one of the group consisting of steam, heat, and combinations thereof to cause said lye to loosen said peel from a flesh of said produce;
• d. a peel separation step comprising impacting a surface of said peel with a jet of air having sufficient kinetic energy to substantially separate said loosened peel from said flesh;
• and
• e. a rinsing step comprising rinsing said produce with water to remove residual peel and residual lye from said produce.

A system comprising:

• a. a conveyor for transporting an agricultural produce, said produce comprising an outer peel portion connected to an inner flesh portion;
• b. a destroying means, comprising one of the group consisting of caustic fluid, steam, and combinations thereof, for at least partially destroying a connection between said peel and said flesh of said produce;
• and
• c. at least one peeler directing a jet of air towards a surface of said peel of said produce, said air having sufficient kinetic energy to substantially separate said peel from said flesh of said produce.

A system for removing an outer peel portion of an agricultural product which has been loosened from an inner flesh portion of said produce by one of the group consisting of a caustic means and a steaming means, said system comprising:

• a. a plurality of peelers, each peeler directing a jet of air towards a surface of said peel, said air having sufficient kinetic energy to substantially separate said peel from said flesh of said produce;
• b. a plurality of fluid applicators, each applicator applying a fluid to said surface of said peel of said produce;
• and
• c. a recycling system collecting discharge from one of the group consisting of said plurality of peelers, said plurality of fluid applicators, and combinations thereof, wherein said recycling system separates said discharge into a solid byproduct and a liquid byproduct.

A method for removing peels from harvested agricultural crops comprising the steps of:

• a. exposing said crops to one of the group consisting of steam, water, and combinations thereof to improve the permeability of said peels;
• b. applying a first solution to surfaces of said peels, said first solution comprising lye;
• c. exposing said surfaces of said peels to one of the group consisting of steam, heat, and combinations thereof to cause said solution to loosen said peels from inner flesh portions of said crops;
• d. directing at least one jet of air toward said surfaces of said peels, wherein said jet of air has sufficient kinetic energy to substantially separate said peels from said flesh portions;
• and
• e. rinsing said crops with water to remove any of said first solution remaining on said crops.