Granted Patent B2

US 8,074,365 · App. 12/978,306 · Granted Dec 13, 2011

Abstract

Claims (57)

1. A method of commercially harvesting lettuce in a field, the lettuce having a head, a stem, and roots extending from the stem when the lettuce is growing in the field, wherein the head has a core with inner leaves extending from the core, wherein the head has a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion is attached to the stem when the lettuce is growing in the field, and wherein the bottom portion includes all of the core, the method comprising:

a) removing the bottom portion of the head of lettuce to obtain only the top portion of the head; and

b) after performing step a), removing a center section of the top portion of the head to leave a cup-shaped portion of the head, wherein steps a) and b) are performed in the field in which the head was harvested.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein step a) comprises:

cutting the stem to harvest the head from the ground;

after cutting the stem, cutting away the top portion of the head from the bottom portion of the head to obtain only the top portion of the head.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein step a) comprises:

while the lettuce is in the ground, cutting away the top portion of the head from the bottom portion of the head to leave the bottom portion attached to the stem in the ground to obtain only the top portion of the head.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the head of lettuce has a mid-line defined by the widest portion of the head with the stem oriented downward.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the head is cut below the mid-line to obtain the top portion of the head in step a).

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the top portion of the head obtained in step a) is about 30 to 40 percent by weight of the head.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the top portion includes only portions of inner leaves.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein step b) is performing using a cleaning tab.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the cleaning tab is disposed on a harvesting knife having a blade with a cutting edge and a heel, wherein the cleaning tab is disposed on the heel and extends from the cutting edge of the blade.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the cleaning tab extends generally at a right angle from the cutting edge of the blade.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein step a) is performed using the cutting edge of the blade, and wherein steps a) and b) are performed using the harvesting knife without changing a user's grip on the handle of the harvesting knife.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

after b), rinsing cut sites on the cup-shaped portion using a rinsing solution.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

packing a plurality of cup-shaped portions into a carton, wherein the cup-shaped portions have a concave portion and a convex portion, wherein the plurality of cup-shaped portions are packed in a plurality of stacks in the carton, and wherein each stack comprises two or more cup-shaped portions stacked with concave portions stacked on top of convex portions.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the carton includes eight stacks of cup-shaped portions arranged in two rows, and wherein each stack includes four cup-shaped portions.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

stacking a plurality of cartons on a pallet;

vacuum cooling the cartons on the pallet; and

shipping the pallet with the stacks of cartons to destination markets.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the pallet includes nine layers of cartons with six cartons in each layer.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lettuce is iceberg lettuce.

18. A method of commercially harvesting lettuce, the lettuce having a head, a core, a stem, and roots, wherein the stem connects the head to the roots when the lettuce is growing in the ground, wherein the head has a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion is connected to the stem, and wherein the bottom portion includes all of the core, the method comprising:

a) while the lettuce is in the ground, cutting away the bottom portion of the head to leave the bottom portion attached to the stem in the ground;

b) retaining the top portion of the head; and

c) removing a center section from the top portion of the head to leave a cup-shaped portion of the head, wherein steps a)-c) are performed in the field.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the head before having the bottom portion cut away in step a) has a mid-line defined by the widest portion of the head with the stem oriented downward.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the head is cut below the mid-line to cut away the bottom portion in step a).

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the top portion retained in step b) is about 30 to 40 percent by weight of the head.

22. The method of claim 18 , wherein the top portion includes only portions of inner leaves.

23. The method of claim 18 , wherein steps a) and c) are performed using a harvesting knife having a blade with a cutting edge and a heel, a handle, and a cleaning tab disposed on the heel and extending from the cutting edge of the blade, wherein step a) is performed using the cutting edge of the blade, and wherein step c) is performed using the cleaning tab.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein steps a) and c) are performing using the harvesting knife without changing a user's grip on the handle of the harvesting knife.

25. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

after c), rinsing cut sites on the cup-shaped portion using a rinsing solution.

26. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

packing a plurality of cup-shaped portions into a carton, wherein the cup-shaped portions have a concave portion and a convex portion, wherein the plurality of cup-shaped portions are packed into a plurality of stacks in the carton, and wherein each stack comprises two or more cup-shaped portions stacked with concave portions stacked on top of convex portions.

27. A method of commercially harvesting lettuce in a field, the lettuce having a head, a stem, and roots extending from the stem when the lettuce is growing in the field, wherein the head has a core with inner leaves extending from the core, wherein the head has a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the head of lettuce has a mid-line defined by the widest portion of the head with the stem oriented downward, wherein the bottom portion is attached to the stem when the lettuce is growing in the field, and wherein the bottom portion includes all of the core, the method comprising:

a) cutting the head below the mid-line to remove the bottom portion of the head of lettuce to obtain only the top portion of the head; and

b) after performing step a), removing a center section of the top portion of the head to leave a cup-shaped portion of the head, wherein steps a) and b) are performed in the field in which the head was harvested.

28. The method of claim 27 , further comprises:

before a), cutting the stem to harvest the head from the ground.

29. The method of claim 27 , wherein, in step a), the head is cut below the mid-line while the lettuce is in the ground to leave the bottom portion attached to the stem in the ground.

30. The method of claim 27 , wherein the top portion of the head obtained in step a) is about 30 to 40 percent by weight of the head.

31. The method of claim 27 , wherein the top portion includes only portions of inner leaves.

32. The method of claim 27 , further comprising:

after b), packing a plurality of cup-shaped portions into a carton, wherein the cup-shaped portions have a concave portion and a convex portion, wherein the plurality of cup-shaped portions are packed in a plurality of stacks in the carton, and wherein each stack comprises two or more cup-shaped portions stacked with concave portions stacked on top of convex portions.

33. The method of claim 32 , further comprising:

stacking a plurality of cartons on a pallet;

vacuum cooling the cartons on the pallet; and

shipping the pallet with the stacks of cartons to destination markets.

34. The method of claim 33 , wherein the carton includes eight stacks of cup-shaped portions arranged in two rows, and wherein each stack includes four cup-shaped portions, and wherein the pallet includes nine layers of cartons with six cartons in each layer.

35. The method of claim 27 , wherein the lettuce is iceberg lettuce.

Assignments (26)