Abstract: A melon peeler simultaneously removes the seed pod, seeds and rind from a melon slice. A melon slice input channel and a drive assembly cooperate to guide a melon slice toward a cutting assembly arranged across the input channel. The cutting assembly includes an upper blade and a lower blade arranged so that the upper blade removes the seeds and seed pod while the lower blade removes the find, leaving a melon slice of selected thickness.

Abstract: A method for processing a fruit product such as fresh strawberries provides greatly prolonged shelf life by cooling the strawberries, washing the strawberries in a first chilled chlorine bath, slicing the strawberries to provide sliced strawberries, washing the sliced strawberries in a second chilled chlorine bath, draining the sliced strawberries to remove moisture therefrom, washing the sliced strawberries in a bath that comprises a citric acid and tribasic calcium solution, drying the sliced berries with de-humidified air, placing a selected weight of the strawberries into each one of a plurality of gas-impermeable containers, and sealing the containers with a breathable film.

Abstract: A method for processing melons provides greatly enhanced shelf life and maintains excellent quality of melon products so that they are suitable for human consumption. The harvested fresh melons are cooled to a temperature of approximately 36.degree. F. before they are graded and selected for further processing. The melons are then cut along their apexes to form melon halves. The seeds and soft tissue are removed from the melon halves, which are then cut to form melon segments. The finds are removed from the melon segments, which are then washed in a chilled chlorinated bath. The melon segments are then inspected and graded. Those melon segments that pass the inspection and grading process are then cut to form melon cubes that are washed in a chilled chlorinated water bath. The melon cubes are drained to remove chlorinated water, and the melon cubes are washed in a chilled citric acid and tribasic calcium phosphate bath.