Patent ID: 8178145
Filing Date: 2012-05-15
Classification: A23B

Abstract:
1. A method of applying sprout inhibitor to a pile of harvested vegetables in a storage facility, the method comprising: forming an aerosol containing the sprout inhibitor; directing at least a first portion of the aerosol in a first direction into an area above the pile of vegetables to provide a substantially uniform distribution of the sprout inhibitor over the vegetables; and directing at least a second portion of the aerosol in a second direction into one or more ducts beneath the pile of vegetables to distribute the sprout inhibitor under the vegetables, wherein directing the first portion of the aerosol in the first direction includes operating a fan in a first direction, wherein directing the second portion of the aerosol in the second direction includes reversing the fan and operating the fan in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, and wherein at least one of directing the first portion of the aerosol in the first direction and directing the second portion of the aerosol in the second direction includes introducing the corresponding portion of the aerosol into the storage facility upstream of the fan.