SILENT FOOD DETECTIVE 

HOW OFTEN HAVE YOU PICKED UP A BRUISED AND DAMAGED TOMATO AT YOUR FAVORITE GROCERY STORE AND PUT IT BACK IN THE PILE? HOW OFTEN HAS THAT HAPPENED WITH POTATOES, ONIONS APPLES OR OTHER PRODUCE?

THESE BRUISES USUALLY RESULTING FROM HARVESTING, PACKAGING AND MARKETING CAUSE BIG LOSSES. UP TO $30 MILLION A YEAR WITH POTATOES ALONE. IT'S LONG BEEN A BIG PROBLEM FOR GROWERS AND EVERYONE IN THE FOOD-HANDLING CHAIN. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT TO PINPOINT BECAUSE THE BRUISE, LIKE ONE ON YOUR BODY, DOESN'T IMMEDIATELY APPEAR. ONLY DURING TRANSPORTATION OR IN THE STORE DOES IT DEVELOP AND BECOME OBJECTIONABLE TO OUR FASTIDIOUS TASTES.

NOW, WITH TELEMETRY IMPACT DETECTION DEVICES THAT MONEY- LOSING BRUISE IS ABOUT TO DIMINISH. PSEUDO-FRUIT OR A PSEUDO-POTATO IS PUT IN THE HARVESTING, TRANSPORTING AND DISTRIBUTING CYCLE AND ITS EVERY BUMP RECORDED ALONG THE WAY.

EACH BUMP OR BRUISE AND ITS LEVEL OF INTENSITY IS RECORDED THROUGH THE PSEUDO-OBJECT AND THAT DATA IS RELAYED TO NEARBY RECEIVING AND RECORDING EQUIPMENT. CORRECTIVE ACTION CAN THEN BE TAKEN AT THE APPROPRIATE LOCATION EN ROUTE. MORE INFORMATION: RESEARCH PROF. JAMES L. HALDERSON, UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO, COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, ABERDEEN, IDAHO 83210

PHONE: (208) 397-4181.

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