Latest field-orchard
Improving Kiwifruit Quality
Dry matter (DM) and postharvest management will determine the final kiwifruit quality, so precisely estimating DM at harvest is essential. The main aim of postharvest handling is to reduce fruit softening due to ripening, as the fruit is delicate. Research in postharvest handling and processing suitable for local conditions is in varying stages of readiness… Continue reading…
Precision Techniques can make Horticulture Sustainable
Precision horticulture can increase yields with fewer inputs. These techniques optimize growing conditions by improving decision-making based on analyzed data to maximize fresh produce quality and yield. Monitoring quality in all stages is crucial for horticulture crops. Precision horticulture techniques are suitable for outdoor and indoor farms. Precision horticulture is becoming attractive as it reduces… Continue reading…
Methods of Active Packaging
How we buy and consume food has undergone enormous changes in the last decades. Consumers demand food that is minimally processed, has no chemical additives, and are nutritious and of high quality. In addition, there are stringent national and international controls on food to protect consumers’ health. Also, retailing and distribution have changed, making older… Continue reading…
Melon Fruit: Quality, Production & Physiology
Making Sense of the Magical, Mystical Melon Melons have been around for many millennia, and there are several varieties, both landraces, and new hybrids worldwide. Climacteric and non-climacteric ripening is seen in the various melon varieties. External inspection of sensory attributes like rind color or flavor development is not objective to decide ripeness or… Continue reading…
Ethylene Measurement & Rootstock Influence in Apple
How Rootstocks Influence Apple Fruit Quality and Yield Besides influencing tree growth and yield of scion cultivars, rootstocks also affect fruit maturity in apples. The experiment found a climacteric pattern, where ethylene production, respiration rates, and oxygen consumption peaked after 5–7 days in fruits produced from all rootstocks. The 17 rootstocks have significant differences… Continue reading…
Advancing apple quality assessment with the Felix Produce Quality Meter
Developing an accurate predictive apple quality model is no easy task, but Bart Nicolai and his research team at KU Leuven are cracking the code using the F-750 Produce Quality Meter. In over 20 years of research employing near-infrared technology, Mr. Nicolai has used or profiled nearly every NIR tool on the market. His… Continue reading…
The 5 Most Important Parameters in Produce Quality Control
Quality control throughout the process of precision horticulture is vital to maximizing efficient food production. Five quality parameters are regularly relied upon for the most accurate assessment of produce quality: dry matter, soluble sugars, titrable acidity, color, and firmness. These parameters act as maturity index and can optimize quality and yield in the supply chain… Continue reading…
Irradiated Avocados: Testing Gamma Treatment for Postharvest Pest Control
Quarantine pests threaten avocado yield and export, but adequate methods of control do not currently exist. Gamma radiation of fruit as a possible postharvest treatment was evaluated, but the treatment was not found to be ideal. The experiment discusses the effects of gamma treatment on sensory and internal quality parameters and correlates it to physiological… Continue reading…
Guide to Fresh Fruit Quality Control
Quality control is essential because fruits are perishable and delicate and can be affected by handling, storage conditions, weather, pests and diseases, internal changes, and genetics. Accurate fruit quality assessment is critical on the farm, as well as during packaging, storage, transport, artificial ripening, retailing, and research. Internal fruit quality, ripening gas analysis in storage… Continue reading…
Hass in Half the Time: Testing and Applied Research with the F-751 Avocado Quality Meter
Andrea Rivera and her team at GAMA are cutting their testing time in half using the F-751 Avocado Quality Meter. In our most recent interview, Application Scientist Galen George sits down with Andrea to chat about her current projects avocado, and how her team has integrated this time-saving technology into their process. About Andrea… Continue reading…
