What is minimal processing in agriculture?

Answer 1

Minimal processing for agricultural crops refers to a method in which as much of the original product as possible remains in the finished product. With cereal grains, for example, the grain can be ground, then de-germed, then sifted, and finally bleached and additive ingredients put in. With minimal processing the method is simplified to the level of perhaps only rolling the grain in order to keep it as natural as possible. Compare rolled oats (common oatmeal) to a highly processed commercial flour product. Also compare fresh fruit to, say, commercial fruit leather treats.