Abstract: A process for obtaining banana juice, banana essences and/or de-flavored banana juice from whole, ripe bananas is disclosed.

Abstract: A carton system for transport, distribution and point-of-sale display of produce consists of a regular corrugated carton and a pair of open produce trays constructed for stacking within the carton for transport. The carton is separable, e.g., at the distribution site, into a pair of carton segments, each sized to fit over a single tray to form a distribution package. The carton segments are also sized to be removed from the trays, e.g., by a retailer, inverted, and the trays placed within the carton segments for point-of-sale display. In one embodiment, the carton segments are marked to be legible in both distribution and point-of-sale arrangement. A method of transport, distribution and point-of-sale display of produce, especially single finger bananas, is also described.

Abstract: A thermostat monitoring and controlling the temperature of produce ripening within an enclosure and featuring a bridge circuit sensing errors between the actual and desired temperatures in which the desired temperature is selected directly in units of degrees. A bridge amplifier having feedback maintains the bridge in electrical balance to avoid errors due to changes in bridge component self heating. An error detection circuit having a single control simultaneously selects upper and lower error limits centered on the desired temperature, in units of degrees. The circuit indicates whenever the actual temperature goes outside these limits. An alarm circuit indicates a temperature error or a power failure in the thermostat at the thermostat and at a remote location. This circuit utilizes an alternating current source which activates current direction-dependent indicators operating on alternate half cycles.

Abstract: A thermostat monitoring and controlling the temperature of produce ripening within an enclosure and featuring a bridge circuit sensing errors between the actual and desired temperatures in which the desired temperature is selected directly in units of degrees. A bridge amplifier having feedback maintains the bridge in electrical balance to avoid errors due to changes in bridge component self heating. An error detection circuit having a single control simultaneously selects upper and lower error limits centered on the desired temperature, in units of degrees. The circuit indicates whenever the actual temperature goes outside these limits. An alarm circuit indicates a temperature error or a power failure in the thermostat at the thermostat and at a remote location. This circuit utilizes an alternating current source which activates current direction-dependent indicators operating on alternate half cycles.