An important factor when selling cherries is the quality. Swiss company Tobi Seeobst has developed a prototype of a device with which it can test their firmness.
"In addition to size, sugar content and flavor, firmness also plays an important role in the marketing and storage of cherries," explains Peter Stuber, responsible for fruit purchasing at Tobi Seeobst, to the visitors to the Breitenhof conference in Wintersingen BL.
Accepted minimum values
The Tobi sea fruit has set minimum values, which according to Peter Stuber are accepted and comparable in practice. However, these values vary for each variety. Early varieties tend to be softer and the later varieties that need to be stored are rather hard. Measurements are done at fruit temperatures of 8 to 12 C°.
With the previous measuring instruments, the measurement results differed from one subject to another.
Simple application
The device presses down on the cherry. This does not cause its skin to break, but it does get dented. A cherry can therefore not be tested twice and must be replaced by a new one. The device measures an average of six cherries. Values are immediately available on a display. In the example, the value was 46.8 Durafel. Values between 41 and 50 are accepted.
The prototype of the tester cost 20,000 francs. The measurements themselves will then no longer be expensive. If you take the test device with you, you just need external power.
Source: BauernZeitung
For more information:
Tobi Seeobst AG
GF: Benno Neff
Ibergstrasse 28
CH-9220 Bischofszell
Tel. +41 71 424 72 27
Fax: +41 71 424 72 97
E-Mail: info@tobi-fruechte.ch
www.tobi-fruechte.ch