As a young man, Mister Nelson was once honored for growing the best tomatoes at a state fair. He worked at his family's farm and tomato-canning factory in Morristown, Indiana. Working in the factory showed him the need for lengthening the time that food could safely last without spoiling. That was the beginning of his discoveries.

Mister Nelson's research has led to the use of big carbon steel tanks to safely keep food. He began by experimenting with tanks of about 380 liters. Some tanks now can hold more than 30 million liters. They keep food safe at the temperature of the surrounding environment.

The tanks are treated with a substance called epoxy resin. Valve and filter mechanical devices are sterilized. This process prevents bacteria or other harmful microorganisms from reproducing. The sterilized food is shipped for final preparation and processing.

Many developing countries use Mister Nelson's methods. For example, a juice manufacturer in Brazil is able to ship large amounts of orange juice to Europe and the United States. Mister Nelson also developed another system for food processing. The method also kills bacteria in containers, keeping the food inside safe. Companies in many parts of the world use this "bag-in-box" method.