One key catalyst in the movie “The Shawshank Redemption” revolves around the buildup of pressure over time, often forcing extreme outcomes to relieve that pressure. The high-pressure processing (HPP) segment of the industry is no stranger to the concept: apply enough pressure over enough time to destabilize and ultimately kill dangerous or undesirable pathogens.
The application of pressure over time also influences the business world, and Lincoln, Neb.-based Universal Pasteurization Co. has demonstrated that with a bang over the last four years. When the company was last featured in The National Provisioner in 2012, it was a small, one-facility company offering HPP and other value-added services to food processors.