A Multiple Impact Approach for Non-Destructive Measurement of Fruit Firmness and Maturity

Measurement of fruit firmness using impact response is greatly influenced by the angle and location of the impacton the fruit surface. To overcome this variability, a method to measure fruit firmness non-destructively using a multipleimpact approach was developed. Incorporating impact response information for cantaloupes in various melon surfacelocations resulted in a correlation of r = 0.86 compared to a destructive flesh firmness test using a penetrometer and r = 0.94with elastic modulus evaluated from a parallel plate loading test. This non-destructive method for estimating cantaloupefirmness proved to be useful for the classification of cantaloupes into five ripeness stages at a significance level of = 0.05.Rigorous examination of fruit sensitivity to multiple impacts showed negligible effects with regard to physical damage.