Buying fresh produce from the retailing stores can be a hazardous job and high wastage is routinely experienced between bringing them home and consumption. Many housewives routinely check the quality by smell or touch, though she can go wrong many times. With produce prices touching three figures in the case of many fruits, Indian consumer can hardly afford any post-purchase waste. Big global players like Dole or Chiquita have the necessary wherewithal to maintain prime quality of their products with well streamlined technologies, experienced personnel and high quality infrastructure. But there are many middle level retailers with hardly any choice but to absorb the wastage and consequently the economic losses due to their inadequately equipped quality assessment system. Development of a sensitive sensor to evaluate the eatability or otherwise of fresh produce, probably will help these retailers to manage their back shop operations more reliably.
"Researchers in Germany have come up with a new system based on metal-oxide sensor technology, that could check food quality and safety in a cost-effective way. The researchers from the Fraunhofer Institutes for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME) and for Physical Measurement Techniques (IPM), claim that their system can check the emission of gases from food on the spot, without waiting for lab results. It can also quantify the time for the ripening of fruits and vegetables to their readiness for consumption at homes".
Most attractive feature of the device is its ability to quantify the time required for the produce to attain optimum eating quality and consequently plan better to put the right produce at the right time on the shop shelves for sale. Though the device could be expensive, being a one time investment, it may be worth the money spent for procuring it in terms of reduced wastage on the market shelves. This in turn will boost the confidence of the consumer on the retailer to sell safe and good quality foods.
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