Ag-tech instrument developer Felix Instruments will host two webinars on July 7 to launch the latest version of its hi-tech Kiwifruit Quality Meter.
Making "Light Work" of Kiwifruit Maturity Testing: Assessing Fruit Maturity Accurately In the Field, Without the Lab
The new and improved F-751 Kiwifruit Quality Meter enables kiwifruit orchardists and packers to accurately and non-destructively estimate the dry matter and Brix of kiwifruit to indicate quality and ripeness using near-infrared (NIR) technology. The idea was born with the realization that there were no existing back up strategies for kiwifruit testing, particularly in New Zealand where rounds of testing are done before maturity clearance is approved to harvest. “Last year during COVID-19, there were backups in quality testing and people were waiting days, even weeks, for results,” says Galen George, a key member of the team that developed this meter. “And time is of the essence when you’re trying to figure out when to harvest.”
Galen George with the F-751 Kiwifruit Quality Meter.
Hayward, Gold, and Red varieties
In recent trials, in partnership with Start-A-Fresh ltd., the Kiwifruit Quality Meter has proven effective with Hayward, Gold and Red kiwifruit varieties. Packers and retailers can quickly and efficiently spot check fruit quality with an F-751, monitoring around 200 samples per hour (11 seconds per fruit), compared to 30 samples with next day results when using the Microwave Technique.
The device offers the following accuracy (based on 1.5 x model RMSE):
- Dry Matter accuracy of +/- 0.5% for Gold3; +/- 1.0% for Hayward; +/- 1.2% for Red19.
- Brix (sugar content) accuracy of +/- 0.6° for Gold3; +/- 1.9° for Hayward; +/- 1.2° for Red19.
- Hue angle (internal flesh color) accuracy of +/- 0.6° for Gold3; +/- 1.2° for Red19.
"We are excited to highlight the latest phase in the advancement of the Kiwifruit Quality Meter and what this means for the industry," commented Scott Trimble, Marketing Director, Felix Instruments.
The highly portable instrument is designed for simple and accurate push-button operation, saving time and money, while avoiding losses associated with destructive methods. It also works seamlessly with Fruit Maps, the free interactive harvest map application co-created by Felix Instruments and Central Queensland University.
F-751 Kiwifruit Quality Meter.
Cost savings
The meter offers straight cost savings in fewer lab tests, manpower and destroyed fruit, while simultaneously reducing guesswork, and providing more vital data. The ability to easily measure more fruit more often helps growers make better, data-driven harvest decisions.
Breeders can use the NIR device to better determine how different applications of nutrients or herbicides affect fruit quality, while for distributors, the F-751 offers more visibility into the quality of outgoing and incoming product, laying the groundwork for better decision-making and cost savings.
Webinar
The webinar—presented in both English and Spanish will include a live demonstration of the device and focus on how kiwifruit personnel can utilize the meter in their process. Click on the links to register for the English or Spanish version of the webinar. The English version will take place on July 7 at 2:00 pm Pacific Time. The Spanish webinar will be held July 7 at 8:00 am Pacific Time.
Contact:
Scott Trimble
Felix Instruments
Tel: +1 (360) 833-8835
[email protected]
www.felixinstruments.com
