Abstract: The invention provides a method and an apparatus for washing and cleaning fruits and vegetables. The apparatus has a degassing means (14); a washing tank (26) which accommodates at least one item for cleaning; an ultrasonic means (28); at least one water pumping means (32); a water jetting means (62) for directing a plurality of jets of water towards the at least one cleaning item to halt circulation and motion of water in the washing tank (26) and concurrently to bring the rotation and motion of the at least one cleaning item to halt within the shortest period of time, a holding means (52, 70) to facilitate passage of ultrasonic energy through the water to optimally penetrate the at least one cleaning item immersed therein; and a control means (16) for programming and executing relevant process parameters in the operation of the apparatus.