Abstract: A method for producing an avocado food product with a reduced instance of pathogens, the method comprising: (a) removing the pip and peel from an avocado leaving the flesh of the avocado; (b) macerating the avocado flesh; (c) exposing the avocado flesh to an atmosphere comprising steam for a predetermined time; wherein the steam is generated at or greater than about atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A process for treating milk including the steps of: a homogenization step wherein the milk is maintained at a temperature of below about 60° C.; and, a high pressure processing step, wherein the milk is subjected to an elevated pressure above about 350 MPa wherein the elevated pressure of the high pressure processing step does not induce an increase in the temperature of the milk in excess of a limiting temperature of about 60° C. during the high pressure processing step.

Abstract: An apparatus for blanching segmented avocados uses a conveyor system for transporting the avocados from one end of a blanching chamber to an opposite end, the conveyor system having a perforated conveyor belt positioned on two or more drive rollers for transporting the avocados into and out of the blanching chamber and driven by a drive mechanism. The blanching chamber includes a shroud overlying the conveyor belt and in longitudinal alignment in relation thereto to at least partially enclose steam produced from a bath underlying the conveyor belt and in longitudinal alignment with the shroud and the conveyor belt. During use, the steam is at least partially enclosed by the shroud thereby exposing the segmented avocados positioned on the perforated conveyor belt to steam and blanching the avocados in the blanching chamber at a blanching pressure, at least a portion of which is not sealed from atmosphere.

Abstract: A method for producing an avocado food product with a reduced instance of pathogens, the method comprising: (a) removing the pip and peel from an avocado leaving the flesh of the avocado; (b) macerating the avocado flesh; (c) exposing the avocado flesh to an atmosphere comprising steam for a predetermined time; wherein the steam is generated at or greater than about atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A process for treating milk including the steps of: a homogenization step wherein the milk is maintained at a temperature of below about 60° C.; and, a high pressure processing step, wherein the milk is subjected to an elevated pressure above about 350 MPa wherein the elevated pressure of the high pressure processing step does not induce an increase in the temperature of the milk in excess of a limiting temperature of about 60° C. during the high pressure processing step.

Abstract: A process for treating fruits or vegetables to minimize browning upon subsequent processing, handling, and storage, the method comprising: (a) separating edible pulp tissue from inedible tissue of the fruit or vegetable; (b) blanching said edible pulp tissue in steam for a pre-determined blanching time period at a blanching pressure that is less than or equal to atmospheric pressure; (c) cooling the blanched pulp tissue and extracting residual heat from the blanched pulp tissue; (d) freezing the cooled pulp tissue to obtain at least partially frozen pulp tissue; wherein the frozen pulp tissue obtained from step (d) possesses substantially similar organoleptic properties as freshly separated pulp tissue in (a).