Introduction
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Pre-packed spring onions |
(c) Su Kahumbu, Kenya |
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Pre-packed sweet corn |
(c) Su Kahumbu, Kenya |
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Mixed Salad Pack |
(c) Su Kahumbu, Kenya |
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Garlic |
(c) Su Kahumbu, Kenya |
Initial Steps for Basic Processing for fresh fruits and vegetables
Step 1. Sorting
Step 2. Basic pre-packing
Step 3. Washing
Small scale production can rely on washing in buckets laid out in a series where products are moved from soiled to fresh potable final rinse water. Washing may also be done with a jet hose. On a larger scale washing may be mechanised. Certain standards and markets may require the use of a sanitiser in the final rinse water. See fresh produce sanitisers at end of page.
Step 4. Peeling, trimmimg.
This process removes the outer skin and other unwanted parts of the fruit or veg from the final product before it is subject to the final stage of processing. After this stage there should be no more waste from the initial raw material. Peeling and trimming should be carried out with stainless steel utensils in order to avoid product discolouration.
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Hand peelers |
(c) Su Kahumbu, Kenya |
Tools for manual production: kitchen peelers
Tools for mechanised production: sandwall peeler - good for potatoes, turnips, carrots
Basic Processing Methods
1. Shredding and Slicing: Vegetables:
Fruits: mangoes, pineapples
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Manually slicing a courgette |
(c) Su Kahumbu, Kenya |
Tools for manual production: stainless steel knives, stainless steel slicers
Tools for mechanised production: food processors, commercial shredders and slicers
2. Grating Vegetables:
Manual Graters - stainless steel graters
Mechanised graters - food processors
3. Cubeing/Chipping Vegetables
Fruits: Apples, pears, melons
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Manually dicing and weighing carrots in punnet |
(c) Su Kahumbu, Kenya |
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Manually dicing and weighing carrots in punnet |
(c) Su Kahumbu, Kenya |
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Manually dicing and weighing carrots in punnet |
(c) Su Kahumbu, Kenya |
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Sealing diced carrots in punnet using cling film |
(c) Su Kahumbu, Kenya |
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Sealing diced carrots in punnet using cling film |
(c) Su Kahumbu, Kenya |
Manual Cube/Chipping - domestic potato chipper, stainless steel knives
Mechanised cube/chipping
4. Trimmed Whole Baby
Vegetables: beetroot, carrots, zuchinni, cabbages, parsnip
5. Trimmed Leaves
Vegetables: baby spinach leaves, beetroot leaves, parsley, corriander leaves, various types of lettuce and lettuce mixes as well as herbs.
6. Florets
Vegetables: Brocolli, cauliflower
7. Combination pre packs.
Prepack Weights and Packaging
Weighting
Packaging
Contact Source Links: Fruit and Veg water sanitisers:
- Legumatt Available from Eco labs Kenya