Current Trends in the Development of Fruit Sorters in Japan

In the 90 years or so since the beginning of the 20 th century , orchard growing and agricultural fields in Japan have undergone considerable change in terms of production volume, a seen in Fig. 1. as this change in volume progressed, sorting and packing machines have also grown from the first wooden tools, almost too simple to be called " machines" into sophisticated devices that bring together diverse technologies such as machinery , electronics, and optics. Nowadays, Japan/s agricultural industry is facing unprecedentedly serious labor shortage and the rapid aging of its experienced growers and producers, In additions, Japan has changed from a society oriented towards high-volume production and consumption to a more selective society which prefers smaller volume with the tastes of naturally ripended produce. With consumer trends changing there is a new demand on the part of growers for equipment that can not only measure the external quality of produce , but can measure inte nal quality as well.