Latest technology
5 Benefits of Pairing NIR Data with Firmness Tests
When produce teams talk about better maturity decisions, they usually end up discussing more than one metric. That is why NIR data matters most when it is paired with firmness tests. NIR data gives you fast, non-destructive insight into internal quality traits such as dry matter, Brix, titratable acidity, and internal color, while firmness testing… Continue reading…
Major Causes of Postharvest Decline in Fresh Produce
The main causes for postharvest decline in fresh produce are mechanical damage, respiration, transpiration, ethylene, and senescence. The importance of each cause varies across classes of fresh produce, including root vegetables, leafy vegetables, flower vegetables, immature fruit vegetables, and mature fruits. Adequate technology adoption can significantly reduce postharvest decline. Around 40-50% of fruits and vegetables… Continue reading…
Truth About Calibration: Why Factory Settings Aren’t Forever
When you first power on a new instrument, it is easy to assume the factory settings will hold steady for years. In reality, gas analyzer calibration is not a one time event. It is an ongoing process that directly affects data integrity, storage decisions, and ultimately profitability. In postharvest environments where small shifts in oxygen,… Continue reading…
Myth: NIR Devices Work the Same on All Cultivars
Near-infrared fruit analysis is widely used across the produce industry, but a persistent myth still circulates: that one NIR model works the same on every cultivar. The truth is that cultivar differences directly impact NIR calibration accuracy, and ignoring that reality leads to inconsistent data and poor decisions. If you rely on NIR devices for… Continue reading…
Truth About Multi-Gas Monitors: When Extra Sensors Add Noise
The conversation around multi-gas monitors often centers on one assumption: more sensors equal better data. In controlled atmosphere storage, ripening rooms, and produce research, that sounds reasonable. But in practice, multi-gas monitors can introduce complexity, cross-interference, and calibration drift that compromise accuracy. When extra sensors add noise instead of clarity, the result is slower decisions… Continue reading…
Myth: Data Logging Is Optional—It’s Not if You Want Compliance
In food storage, ripening, and controlled atmosphere management, there is a persistent myth that data logging is optional. Teams often assume that if they can spot check gas levels with a handheld unit, that is enough. It is not. If you care about gas analyzer compliance, continuous and reliable data logging is part of the… Continue reading…
Truth About F-Series Devices and Reference Methods: What Correlation Really Means
When people talk about correlation in the context of a produce quality meter, the conversation often gets simplified. A device is tested against a lab reference method. A number comes back. If it is high, the instrument is considered accurate. If it is lower, doubts start to creep in. But correlation is more nuanced than… Continue reading…
Truth About NIR Light Penetration: Why Fruit Size Affects Accuracy
When people talk about NIR light penetration in produce testing, the conversation usually centers on calibration models and device performance. But fruit size often gets overlooked. In reality, NIR light penetration is directly influenced by fruit diameter, density, and internal structure. If you are using handheld NIR devices in the field or at intake, understanding… Continue reading…
Myth: Postharvest Gas Levels Don’t Change Overnight
Postharvest gas analysis is often treated as a routine checkpoint rather than a continuous priority. A common myth in storage and ripening operations is that gas levels remain stable overnight. Many teams assume that once a room is set and verified at the end of the day, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and ethylene concentrations will hold… Continue reading…
Truth About ‘Zero Calibration’ Sensors: Why Manual Verification Still Matters
Zero calibration sensors are often marketed as a way to simplify gas detection and eliminate routine calibration steps. On paper, the promise is attractive. A sensor that automatically maintains its baseline without manual intervention sounds like a clear operational win. In practice, though, zero calibration sensors do not remove the need for manual verification. For… Continue reading…
