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Advances in Near-Infrared Spectroscopy for Root Crop Quality Detection

May 27, 2025 at 3:48 pm | Updated May 27, 2025 at 3:48 pm | 12 min read

Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is an interesting technology because it can detect quality nondestructively, rapidly, and precisely. NIR spectroscopy can correctly estimate internal quality parameters like protein, sugar, water content, starch, and anthocyanins. NIR spectroscopy helps in the early detection of potato diseases and their severity. NIR spectroscopy for root crops has been applied in laboratories,… Continue reading…

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How to Determine the Right Avocado Harvest Maturity Index for Optimal Quality

Physical and chemical parameters and crop chronology are used as harvest maturity indices for avocados. Physical quality parameters, especially appearance, are commonly used worldwide. Dry matter content measured by near-infrared spectroscopy-based devices has become the industry standard maturity index. Sugar content is not a reliable avocado harvest maturity index. Avocado fruits go through four stages… Continue reading…

Harvest Index vs Harvest Maturity Index: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters

The harvest index and harvest maturity index maximize yield and quality but involve different purposes, measurement methods, stakeholders, timing, and target crops. The harvest index is used during the research and cultivar development stage to measure plant function efficiency and estimates the carbon allotted to make harvestable products. The harvest maturity index estimates the best… Continue reading…

What Is The Best Apple Harvest Maturity Index?

Apple harvest maturity indices are mainly based on physical and chemical attributes. The most reliable method is the starch index. The harvest maturity index values differ based on cultivars and the storage time. Each fruit is distinctive, and the methods used to fix harvest time must be customized for each cultivar. Determining the optimum harvest… Continue reading…

How to Improve Shelf Life and Fruit Quality: A Conversation on Tech and Collaboration with Dave Giannini from Apeel and Felix Instruments

In a recent webinar, Galen, Director of Applied Science at Felix Instruments, and Dave Giannini, Chief Software Architect at Apeel Sciences, unveiled a groundbreaking collaboration aimed at reducing food waste in the produce industry. This partnership leverages Felix Instruments’ cutting-edge spectrometer technology combined with Apeel Sciences’ innovative software solutions to empower growers, pack houses, retailers,… Continue reading…

Peach Harvest Maturity Indices for Better Yield

Crop chronology and fruit physical and chemical parameters are useful as peach harvest maturity indices. Firmness, size, color, sugar, and acidity content are objective and quantifiable indices. External colors estimated with charts are subjective. None of the peach harvest maturity indices can be used alone, and additional indices are needed to estimate maturity accurately and… Continue reading…

How to Use Mango Harvest Maturity Indices to Improve Fruit Quality and Yield

The mango harvest maturity indices can be physical, computational, physiological, and biochemical attributes. Physical indices are simple but subjective and unreliable. Biochemical harvest maturity indices are the most reliable, and standard NIR spectroscopy-based non-destructive estimation methods are the best. Mango fruits must be harvested at optimum maturity to continue developing internal and external quality attributes… Continue reading…