Individual Quality Control Technology for High-grade Fruit Developed Using Information and Communication Technology

Abstract

In the production of high-grade tree fruits, it is important not only to maximize fruit quality, but also to guarantee the quality so that consumers can buy with confidence. It is also necessary to minimize the increase in labor costs associated with maximizing fruit quality. We propose a quality control system named the tutor model for individual high-grade fruits based on information and communication technology. Previously, we have developed a quality control system named the school model for fruits that can be grown in large quantities at a relatively low price, such as mandarin oranges. The school model uses data measured from sample fruits to represent the whole crop. There was no guarantee that the individual fruits meet the required quality standards, and no mechanism that consumers can buy with confidence. In the tutor model, electronic tags or QR code tags are attached to individual fruits. The producer records individual sugar content measured during culture, corresponding to the tags. The system advises the producer to reduce the difference between the target and measured values of individual fruits. Fruits are shipped with their tags so that consumers can obtain information from the tag and buy with confidence. An experiment conducted with ‘Shine Muscat’ grape showed that the risk of shipping low-sugar-content fruits could be reduced and the increase in labor could be restricted to 4.5%.