Innovative sorting and grading solutions to be showcased at World Avocado Congress

On April 2-5, TOMRA Food will participate in World Avocado Congress in New Zealand (The Aotea Centre, Auckland).

As a Gold sponsor of the Congress, TOMRA will organize a pre-congress networking event and host an Innovation Breakfast that will include a presentation on AI, at the Aotea Centre. The company will also present its latest post-harvest technology developments and an academic paper on measurement methods for product quality improvement.

With the slogan “Respectful: Respect for people, respect for the environment, and respect for our future.”, the 10th edition of the Congress will unite 1,500 industry experts from over 30 countries worldwide. The 4-day event will feature an exhibition, trade show, and academic sessions.

On the weekend before the Congress, participants will have a chance to visit New Zealand’s North Island to see avocado packhouses and communicate with their owners and operators. 

On March 31, 3 days prior to Innovation Breakfast, TOMRA Food will host a networking event at its premises in the Auckland suburb of Onehunga. The event is intended for the company’s New Zealand and international customers and partners, congress speakers, avocado industry stakeholders, as well as New Zealand government representatives. The speakers of the networking event will be Jacinto Trigo, TOMRA’s Global Category Director for Avocados, and Paul Slupecki, Head of TOMRA Fresh Food.

Since the opening day (April 3), attendees will be able to see TOMRA’s exhibition stand in the main foyer of the Aotea Centre. The stand will demonstrate post-harvest solutions for avocado packers and spotlight the new Adaptive Rate Controller (ARC). 

On April 4, TOMRA will showcase Artificial Intelligence at Innovation Breakfast in the Aotea Centre’s Waihorotiu Room.  James French, Head of Innovation, will carry out a presentation that starts by questioning: “What sort of impact will AI have on the food industry?”.

In addition, TOMRA Food’s Inspection Science Manager, Robert Valkenburg, will present an academic paper that compares methods for destructive and rapid non-destructive measurement of dry matter, firmness, and rot in Hass Avocados.

Avocado sorting solutions

Specifically for avocado packhouse operations, TOMRA offers the TOMRA 5S Advanced sorting and sizing platform, the Spectrim sorter and grader, and the Inspectra2 grading system. All three also suit well to citrus fruit and apples. 

The TOMRA 5S Advanced sorting platform is equipped with software that enables optimization and efficiency across the line, increasing quality, productivity, and efficiency. These feature programs for element mixing, throughput control, exact packout optimization, and a Dynamic Lane Balancer. All programs are controlled through the sorter’s intuitive graphic user interface.

The connectivity to the cloud-based data platform TOMRA Insight enables better and data-driven decisions. TOMRA Insight also provides a better flow of information throughout the supply chain and enables traceability from bin to pack.

Spectrim sorts the avocados according to color and surface blemishes. Then the fruit can be graded for size and defects (skin blemishes, insect damage, bruising, misshapen fruit, abrasions).

A non-invasive internal grading, particularly for dry matter content, is ensured by Inspectra2. This platform’s near-infrared spectrometer is capable of detecting dry matter content, fruit by fruit.

With these capabilities, packhouses can ease their toughest daily operational challenges, boost productivity and profitability, and provide customers with the quantity and quality they’ve required for.

If you own an avocado business and seek to upgrade sorting and grading technology, send your inquiry