ARS | Publication request: Quality Is More Than Skin Deep

Submitted to: Resource
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: March 6, 2010
Publication Date: April 26, 2010
Citation: Lu, R., Guyer, D. 2010. Quality Is More Than Skin Deep. ASABE Resource Magazine. 17(3):10-13.

Technical Abstract: Technology for quality evaluation of specialty crops has evolved over the past few decades from simple manual sorting/grading to the most recent advances of fully automated technology to evaluate internal properties and defects. This article introduces the engineering research programs at the USDA/ARS lab and Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, on development of nondestructive sensing technologies for postharvest quality evaluation of fruits, nuts and vegetables. A brief description is given of four current projects, including near-infrared reflectance and transmittance spectroscopy and imaging for insect detection in tart cherries, computed tomography for automated inspection of chestnut quality, light scattering technology for apple internal quality assessment, and hyperspectral reflectance and transmittance imaging for quality inspection of pickling cucumbers and pickles. Finally, development and application of the next generation of sensors for specialty crops is briefly discussed.