Data-led ripeness tracking draws industry focus

Freshness measurement took a data-centric turn at Fruit Logistica 2026, where Felix Instruments presented findings built on more than 500,000 non-destructive fruit quality scans collected across multiple crops and supply chain stages.

The dataset, compiled from orchards, packhouses, storage facilities and retail environments, was used to challenge how the industry defines and manages quality. According to the company, large-scale scanning reveals internal variability that visual grading and small sampling often fail to detect.

Analysis showed that fruit within the same lot can differ significantly in ripeness and firmness, even when external appearance is uniform. This inconsistency was linked to downstream issues including uneven shelf life, retail shrink and consumer dissatisfaction.

Felix Instruments indicated that integrating high-volume quality data allows operators to identify risk earlier, segment product more precisely and adjust storage or distribution decisions in real time. The approach is designed to complement — not replace — existing quality control expertise.

The company also emphasised that non-destructive testing tools are already deployed commercially, moving the technology beyond research into day-to-day operational use.

The presentation formed part of a broader shift at Fruit Logistica toward data-driven postharvest management, as suppliers seek tighter quality consistency under longer, more complex global supply chains.

Watch the presentation here.

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