How Is Non-Destructive Quality Assessment of Fresh Produce Changing the Supply Chain?

The standard quality parameters monitored are color, texture, sugar, titratable acidity, and dry matter content. Several destructive methods of estimation exist for the parameters. Near-infrared spectroscopy is currently the only non-destructive method for quality control of sugars, titrable acidity, internal color, and dry matter content. Near-infrared spectroscopy can precisely and rapidly estimate all quality parameters,… Continue reading…

Advances in Near-Infrared Spectroscopy for Root Crop Quality Detection

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…

What Is the Best Blackberry Harvest Maturity Index for Quality?

Color is the chief harvest maturity index. Other appearance parameters, such as firmness, size, and weight, are also used. Chemical harvest maturity indices, especially the latter, are crucial, including total soluble solids (sugar content), titrable acidity, and taste. Blackberries for processing require different harvest maturity indices and increasingly use dry matter. Harvest maturity indices are… Continue reading…

How Does Bruise Susceptibility in Fresh Produce Impact Quality and Harvest Timing?

Bruise susceptibility varies based on the species, cultivar, and physical and physiological properties of fresh produce. The critical bruising threshold estimates the bruise susceptibility of fruits at different firmness. A critical bruising threshold has been used to develop a harvest maturity index that identifies the minimum firmness (or maximum maturity) for harvesting stone fruits. Bruising… Continue reading…

What Is the Best Plum Harvest Maturity Index?

Taste or sugar/acidity ratio is the plums’ most reliable harvest maturity index. A new plum harvest maturity indicator has been developed that combines firmness at maximum maturity with sugar content. No single quality parameter can be used alone as a harvest maturity index for plums. Plum Characteristics Plums, which are classified as climacteric fruits, have… Continue reading…

What Is the Avocado Harvest Maturity Index and How Is It Measured?

Physical and chemical parameters and crop chronology are avocado harvest maturity indices. 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 of maturity and… 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…

What is The Best Grape Harvest Maturity Index to Determine Harvest Time?

Harvest maturity indices overlap significantly, but as a standard practice to fix harvest time for grapes meant for winemaking, more parameters are used than for fruits for fresh consumption. Total soluble solids, titrable acidity, taste, color, and phenols are critical aspects of the harvest maturity index. Non-destructive near-infrared spectroscopy-based techniques are increasingly used to estimate… 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…