A vegetable topper is disclosed. In one embodiment, the topper includes a plurality of spaced rollers which are mounted on a pair of laterally spaced roller chain loops such that the rollers are able to freely spin relative to the roller chains. The rollers define a bed on which vegetables may be positioned and the flow of vegetables along the bed is generally perpendicular to the rotational axes of the rollers. A pair of laterally spaced traction members engage the lower surface of the rollers on the "upper" portion of the roller chain loops which define the bed such that the rollers of the bed are spun by relative movement between the roller chain loops and these belts. At least two cutter blades are disposed below the bed and cut vegetable tops which extend below a pair of adjacent rollers to provide a self-cleaning feature. A paddle wheel is disposed between these two cutter blades. Adjustment of the position of vegetables on the bed by the paddle wheel, particularly those vegetables which were not topped by the first cutter blade, increases the potential for these vegetables being topped by the second cutter blade which thereby increases the topping efficiency.

A finish topper for bulb crops having a plurality of longitudinal, parallel, generally horizontal, spaced-apart moving belts for conveying bulbs through the apparatus. Adjacent belts are driven at different linear speeds. In a preferred embodiment, alternate belts are replaced by stationary rails to maximize the speed differential. Below and adjustably close to the belts is a driven rotating blade for cutting the bulb stems and also exerting a downwards draft of air through the belts. Onions introduced onto the belts are conveyed through the apparatus by the belts, and the differential in speed between the moving belts and stationary rails causes the bulbs to rotate and gyrate randomly as they are being conveyed. Because the belts are spaced apart, the bulbs assume momentarily an attitude to permit the uncut stems of bulbs to extend downwardly between the belts. The bulbs are retained on their shoulders on the belts in inverted posture. Each bulb, in its random rotational movements, assumes this attitude at least once, at which time the stem is immediately sheared to the proper residual length by the rotating blade. When the belts are covered by a flexible blanket the random gyrations of the onions is increased. Since each onion is restrained by its shoulders against the belts, the residual stem of every onion is equal in length as measured from the onion shoulder.

The disclosed embodiments include methods and apparatus for processing vegetables having a root crown including applying opposing forces to the vegetables to separate the roots or portions thereof at or near the root crown from the vegetable, and packaging the vegetables in a container.

According to certain embodiments of the invention, there is provided a method and an apparatus relating to an infeed for positioning the green onions in a generally horizontal position on a conveyor and a transition conveyor for transporting the horizontally disposed green onions and transporting them to a substantially vertical disposition to present them to a peeler for removing the outer skins of the onion and a de-rooter for shortening or removing the roots from the onions.