Patent ID: 6926015

Claim:
A method for washing produce comprising the steps of: providing a washing section having a washing unit disposed thereon so as to position spray nozzles above said washing section; providing a conveyor belt apparatus located on said washing section and adapted to transport produce through said washing unit from an entry point of said washing section to a terminating point of said washing section; wherein said conveyor belt apparatus further comprises produce receiving baskets adapted to receive said produce and to expose a top portion of said produce to spray emanating from said spray nozzles located above said washing section; wherein said produce receiving baskets comprises an upper ring that is dimensioned to receive a single item of said produce therein and that is open at an upper portion thereof to permit said single item of said produce to be placed therein, a base ring having a smaller diameter than said upper ring and that is open at a lower portion thereof and support members projecting from said base ring to said upper ring; harvesting produce from a field; placing said produce in said produce receiving baskets; passing said produce receiving baskets with said produce therein through said washing unit; and exposing said top portion of said produce to spray emanating from said spray nozzles located above said washing section; wherein said produce is lettuce.