Systems for cleaning and cooling produce

An apparatus for washing and cooling subdivided produce selected from lettuce, cabbage and spinach comprising means for washing the subdivided produce with a solvent and for removing from the surface of said subdivided produce, a substantial quantity of deterioration-causing agents;

• means for maintaining the temperature of the solvent substantially below the boiling point of water, but substantially above 40.degree. F., and sufficiently high to remove a substantial quantity of deterioration-causing agents from the surface of said subdivided produce;
• means for conveying a layer of the washed subdivided produce along a linear path, and means for directing flow of humidified cool air, under pressure, through said layer and through said conveying means, and at a temperature above the freezing point of water and below the temperature of the subdivided produce before cooling begins for cooling said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce, as said subdivided produce moves along said linear path, and means for substantially precluding said flow of humidified cool air, under pressure, from passing around or away from said conveying means.

An apparatus for washing and cooling subdivided produce comprising means for washing the subdivided produce with a solvent and for removing deterioration-causing agents from the surface of said subdivided produce;

• means for maintaining the temperature of the solvent substantially below the boiling point of water, but substantially above 40.degree. F., and sufficiently high to remove a substantial quantity of deterioration-causing agents from the surface of said subdivided produce;
• means for conveying a layer of the washed subdivided produce along a linear path and means for directing flow of humidified cool air, under pressure, through said conveying means, and through said layer and at a temperature above the freezing point of water and below the temperature of the subdivided produce before cooling begins for cooling said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce as said subdivided produce moves along said linear path.

An apparatus for washing and cooling subdivided produce comprising means for washing the subdivided produce with a solvent and for removing deterioration-causing agents from the surface of said subdivided produce;

• means for maintaining the temperature of the solvent substantially below the boiling point of water, but substantially above 40.degree. F., and sufficiently high to remove a substantial quantity of deterioration-causing agents from the surface of said subdivided produce;
• means for conveying a layer of the washed subdivided produce along a linear path and means for directing flow of cool air, under pressure, through said layer and through said conveying means, and at a temperature above the freezing point of water and below the temperature of the subdivided produce before cooling begins for cooling said subdivided produce, as said subdivided produce moves along said linear path.

An apparatus for cooling a layer of unblanched, unboiled, subdivided produce comprising means for conveying said layer along a linear path and means below said conveying means for directing flow of humidified cool air upwardly, under pressure, through said layer and through said conveying means, and at a temperature above the freezing point of water and below the temperature of the subdivided produce before cooling begins for cooling said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce as said subdivided produce moves along said linear path.

An apparatus for cooling a layer of subdivided unblanched, unboiled produce comprising means for conveying said subdivided produce along a linear path and means below said conveying means for directing flow of cool air, under pressure, upwardly through said conveying means and through said layer, and at a temperature below the temperature of the subdivided produce before cooling begins, but above the freezing point of water for cooling said layer of subdivided produce as said layer moves along said linear path.

An apparatus for cooling a layer of subdivided, unblanched, unboiled produce comprising means for conveying said layer along a linear path and means for directing a flow of cool air, under pressure, through said conveying means and then through said layer, and at a temperature below the temperature of the subdivided produce before cooling begins, but above the freezing point of water, for cooling said layer as said layer moves along said linear path.