Recent developments in noninvasive techniques for fresh fruit and vegetable internal quality analysis

This review covers developments in the field of noninvasive techniques for quality analysis of fresh fruit and vegetables, over the past decade up to the year 2005. A chapter on the concept of quality is followed by a discussion of various methods and applications including optical, spectroscopic, and mechanical techniques but also the application of X-rays and some noninvasive methods of minor dispersal. An extra section on research needs reflects on possible future developments. It is concluded that during the last year, much progress has been made in developing nondestructive techniques for the assessment or inspection of quality parameters of fruits including internal disorders but also taste, sugar content, and so forth. As sensors often measure only a single constituent or quality property, combined techniques have to be optimized to measure overall quality. Commercial application of these techniques will be beneficial for the consumer as well as the producer and for trades in which merchants will be able to comply with consumer demands for uniform high-quality products.