In the area of produce quality, packinghouses have units of quality assessment, where
samples of the produce entering the packinghouse as well as along the packing line are
examined for quality. Recent innovations are instruments that can determine various aspects
of quality nondestructively. On many packinghouse lines, currently fruit is automatically
graded for color and blemishes by online cameras that photograph the fruit and send it to the
proper sorting line. This is combined with sorting for weight or size by automatic weighing
cups that send different sizes to different lines. Newer technologies include near-infrared
spectrometers that can examine internal quality, particularly soluble solids or sugars, as
well as acoustic instruments that can measure firmness. These are now being supplied in
new packinghouse lines, and in addition, hand-held instruments are in development for use
in orchards to determine picking date.
Biotechnological approaches are also useful for enhancing the shelf life and quality
of fruits, vegetables, and flowers, but the public acceptance of this technology is limited.
Several information sites describing the optimal storage procedures have also increased the
importance and understanding of postharvest storage (e.g., Sydney Postharvest Laboratory,
www.postharvest.com.au/; www.usda.org).