Penetrometers
Penetrometers measure the firmness or hardness of fruit. Penetrometers are ideal for determining the best time to harvest fruit or to test its progress to maturity. The firmness of fruit is one of the most widely used parameters in testing its maturity, together with measuring the fruits sugar content using refractometers. Electronic penetrometers come with different diameter penetration points. This allows for fruit of different size and hardness to be tested. It is important that this first part of the measurement process is done correctly if the readings obtained are to be valid in making adequate decisions as to when the fruit should be harvested. It is important the the samples that are measured are representative of the entire crop, considering a sufficient minimum quantity sample, size and quality.
