On Grading Work of Kaki (Diospyros Kaki L. cv. Fuyu) (4)

Effects of “Mezoroekai” on grading standard

Abstract

Gradings of fruits and vegetables depend on the sensory perceptions of sorting persons, and the judgements of the grades are different among ones. The sorting persons, therefore, learn the grading standard with due regard to the management plan from the leader and are trained for the accurate grading. To the meeting for such education or training on the grading is given the term of “Mezoroekai”. This meeting often holds at the packing house in the harvest season. In this paper the effects of “Mezoroekai” on grading of Kaki (Diospyros Kaki L. cv. Fuyu) were investigated. The results were follows:
1. By Mezoroekai, concordance of psychometric scale for grading among sorting persons in the same packing house was improved, and fluctuation of criterion point on psychometric scale significantly became small up to certain range. Such effects had continued after a week from Mezoroekai.
2. Criterion points of sorting persons could be changed, but returned to one's previous points nearly within a week from Mezoroekai. This means that the criterion point is of one's own and it is consequently apt to return to own point even if it can be changed by the present Mezoroekai. On the other hand, individual difference on criterion point could not be made uniform by the present Mezoroekai.
3. Rigid or economic grading was proved by criterion point, and extreme rigidness seems to cause much inaccuracy to the grading.