An apparatus for cutting a product includes a conveyor assembly and a
slitter assembly. The conveyor assembly conveys the product in a feed
direction and defines a conveyance surface, on which the product is
conveyed. The slitter assembly slits the product into strips as the
product is conveyed in the feed direction. The slitter assembly comprises
a plurality of cutting elements arranged in a V shape and overlapping one
another in the feed direction, as viewed in a direction substantially
normal to the conveyance surface. A chopping assembly is positioned
downstream of the slitter assembly. The chopping assembly comprises an
elongated blade, which moves in an elliptical cutting motion, such that
it has a component in the downward direction to sever the strips of
product, and a component in the feed direction to toss the severed pieces
of product in the feed direction.