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The criterion determining the harvest time between reaching maturity and ripeness is usually dependent on the product postharvest-life.
- Fruits collected before they reach maturity, with few exceptions, do not ripe later and are therefore suitable for long-term storage
- Fruits fully ripened on the plant, have the best eating quality, but cannot be stored long
Evaluation of the maturity index is important for the regulation of the postharvest handling and an efficient use of manpower and resources.
Maturity attributes include:
- size and shape
- color
- density
- sugar content
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Sugar content:
is measured with a refractometer, by dropping the liquid probe on the prism of the instrument.
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Reference table (% Brix) for maturity determination
| Quality |
Bad |
Medium |
Good |
Excellent |
| Potatoe |
3 |
5 |
7 |
10 |
| Apple |
6 |
10 |
14 |
18 |
| Onion |
4 |
6 |
10 |
12 |
| Carrot |
4 |
8 |
14 |
18 |
| Tomatoe |
4 |
6 |
10 |
14 |
| Honeydew melon |
8 |
10 |
14 |
16 |
| Water melon |
8 |
12 |
16 |
18 |
| Grape |
8 |
12 |
18 |
22 |
| Salad |
4 |
6 |
8 |
10 |
| Cherry |
6 |
8 |
14 |
16 |
| Pear |
6 |
10 |
14 |
16 |
| Orange |
6 |
10 |
16 |
20 |
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Fruit density:
Fruit penetrometer helps to determine the degree of maturity at harvest as well as fruit quality during storage.
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Reference table for fruit density at harvest
| Fruit |
Cultivar |
Firmness
(kg / cm²) |
| Pear |
William´s / Guyot |
6.5 |
| Conference |
5.5 |
| Abate Fetel |
5 |
| Comice |
4.5 |
| Apple |
Staymanred |
7.5 |
| Stark Delicious |
6 |
| Golden Delicious / Granny Smith |
5.5 |
| Plum |
Calita |
2.5 |
| Golden Japan / Ozark Premier |
3 |
| Peach |
Creasthaven, Suncrest, Flavor Top, Red Haven |
6 |
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Fruit size:
is measured by calipers, depending on the fruit size.
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Around the world
Iran
From 26 to 29 April 2016, STEP Systems took part in the Agrotech-Agropars exhibition in the city of Shiraz. Being the largest of the three leading agricultural fairs in Iran, Agrotech-Agropars is also a platform for the long-awaited establishment of relations with Iran.
Morocco
At SIAM exhibition, which was held in late April, STEP Systems was represented by its partners in Morocco, the company Metagrhyd Sarl. SIAM is the largest agricultural fair in North Africa.
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China
From 11 to 13 May 2016, Beijing hosted the 18th Hortiflorexpo, the biggest and most important fair for the horticultural industry in China. STEP Systems was presented at the joint stand of the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, with Harald Braungardt, CEO of STEP Systems, as the official representative of the Ministry.
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