Patent ID: 6516560
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: A01G,A23N

Abstract:
A method of handling mushrooms, comprising the steps of:harvesting the mushrooms from a growing bed, leaving at least the greater part of the stalk still intact and connected to the cap; depositing each harvested mushroom on a respective carrier therefor, which said carrier is configured to support the underside of the cap of the mushroom, with the stalk hanging free from the cap, said carrier being in the form of an elongate strip having a first surface for supporting the undersides of the mushrooms and a web depending downwardly from said first surface which web is adapted to support said first surface, the first surface having a plurality of generally U-shaped recesses along the length thereof whereby an individual mushroom may be located in each such web by moving the mushroom laterally with respect to the length of the carrier; loading a plurality of mushrooms each supported as aforesaid into a compartment of a multi-compartmented storage structure arranged to allow the flow of air through the compartments thereof; and moving the storage structure into a cold-room following the loading of at least some of the compartments of the structure with supported mushrooms, thereby to cool for storage all of the loaded supported mushrooms.