Uses of Non-Destructive Acoustic Firm Tester in Horticulture and Food Science

In Japan, cost of production of fruits is exorbitantly high and reduction of postharvest losses is of the prime importance. An objective, non-destructive technique is needed to field test ripeness of fruits. Use of such a technique during picking would help to assure that consistent quality is being delivered to marketers, retailers, and consumers. Sonic and vibration response method is one technique for predicting the textural quality of agricultural products non-destructively. Experiments on use of this technology to symmetrical fruits, like melons and water-melons, have been reported. In the present study, a non-symmetrical fruit, i.e., mango was used to determine whether it can be used or not? Orientation of the mango fruit is important to have reliable data. It was also found that the best place to measure firmness by Acoustic Firm Tester is the thick flat pulpy side of the mango fruit. This tester would be beneficial especially in those countries where retail price of locally produced fruits is very high due to high cost of production, and also to other countries where quality is given prime importance.