The Humidification Challenge
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Ridding produce of dust, pathogens, viruses, bacteria, and even mold is essential for profitable and safe productions. But the demand for faster production and higher volumes – and keeping up with food and safety regulations – has created a host of modern complications.
While the systems often used have limited capacity and efficacy, for many produce farmers, existing conveyor belts are simply too expensive to replace.
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Disinfecting at scale requires automated, thorough humidification systems that saturate produce in food grade chemicals. However, the moisture must evaporate quickly to eliminate the risk of worker exposure, as well as mold and other spoilage organisms.
Plus, the moisture must be evenly distributed, soaking every corner of produce, even through packaging, with the disinfection solution. And as a bonus, the moisture should cool the produce to preserve freshness.
The Self-Evaporative Solution
Conveyor Systems Solutions
Made from the highest grade stainless steel and food grade materials, including plastic piping and all components, Fog Tunnels can be custom manufactured or retrofitted onto any existing conveyor system. When the produce enters the tunnel via the conveyor system, it is covered with a dense and non-wetting fog that contains water-soluble chemicals to completely disinfect produce.
The microscopic size of self-evaporating droplets creates advantage over other humidification systems: rather than repel microorganisms, the droplets attract bacteria, plant pathogens, and spoilage organisms – then eliminates them through oxidation. Also, the contained tunnel structure limits worker exposure to chemicals. As a result, it can reduce unwanted organisms by 2-5 logs, depending on the desired outcome, all while keeping workers safe and saving farmers’ previous investments.
Transportation Solutions
Self-evaporative humidification systems can also disinfect produce, containers, and trucks during transit. Reversing the molecular attractions, self-evaporative droplets quickly and evenly diffuse dynamic transportation environments without leaving unwanted moisture behind.
Retail Display Solutions
The retail display case is the end of the food industry supply chain. Here, self-evaporative humidification extends the shelf life of produce. With an optional double cooling feature, self-evaporative humidification systems cool both the water and air to preserve meat and produce.
Since the food service industry also works with many electronics and metal surfaces, self-evaporative humidification eliminates electrostatic discharge (ESD). Static charge can cause electronic devices to malfunction or break. Even when ESD isn’t dangerous, static can cause irritating shocks and paper or plastic food wrappings to cling to other surfaces. But by eliminating low and fluctuating humidity conditions, self-evaporation prevents static and provides staff with safe, comfortable working environments.