Produce measuring
Spectroscopy Principles
The basis principle is "The greater the density of a liquid or sap, the greater the amount of dissolved solids (minerals, vitamins, amino acids, etc).
200 years ago, Prof Aldus Brix (Austrian) developed a scale, well known to farmers a "BRIX" for measuring produce, crop and grasses qualities in 95% of food and beverages.
Then, the French developed a very similar scale, called Baume', used for measuring the sugar content of grapes, to ensure consistent wine quality. There are about 4 other scales developed at same time for various purposes.
However, consumers prefer the term "Nutrient Density" as it means a measure produce deliciousness, nutritional values. Hence we use the measurement term "Nutrient Density Index" (NDI), which equates to BRIX.
Nutrimeter I
Comes with the original Nutrimeter.pdf with the International Rating chart of "poor', 'average', 'good' or 'excellent' for 50 fruits, veggies and grains we started with in 2010.
And access to the 250 varieties we have collected since, and with 1 year Consumer Level1 access ($20 pa) to FindGoodfood.org we developed 3 years ago. This is currently under re-development for the 'cloud'.
NutriMeter II
As for Nutrimeter I, includes both Nutrient Density Indices (NDI=BRIX) and the Wort Scales for making / measuring beer, and other spirits.
A range of NutriMeters for different purposes
NutriMeter X - a hand-held scanner
NutriMeter IV - (a 2-3 sec scan for Nutrient Density)
We have been using these scanners since 2017, having adapted them to our specifications. Spectrometers offer these advantages:
- no touching the produce - so you can use it in a food aisle with impunity
(only in NZ, I was thrown out as NZ stores have the right of admission)
- no mess like a refractometer (BRIX Meter or NutriMeter)
- fast (2-3 secs) to scan, readings / ratings from the cloud within 5 sec.
- keeps history for comparison purposes
But this one was limited to 13 fruits, not covering the full range of 250+ varieties found in ANZ. e.g. a green Granny Smith is rated differently to a juicy red Fiji apple.
Nutrimeter X
Since 2017, it was always our intention to build our own hand-held, spectrometer for Consumers and Providores (farmers, growers) . We are close to final development.
Benefits:
- low cost. NutriMeter IV costs about Au$3000 delivered from overseas. Nutrimeter X will be 10-15% of that, and 5 times better.
- we hold the data, so we can can do much more, like
- calculate food and taste Value for Money Indices (FMI),
so you can select both the most delicious, nutritious and/or
- the best food and taste value for money.
- Accuracy is VIP in buying / selling online, so very accurate calibration with low cost refractometers (BRIX or NutriMeter (I - IX)) is VIP, to avoid dis-agreements between Farmers, Growers and Consumers.
- we should be able to measure the full range of 250+ varieties of fruit and veggies in ANZ (as we have done with NutriMeter I over past 12 years).