Fruit • Vegetable

Taking a sample

Measurement Method for Fruits and Vegetables

Measuring Method

Purpose for measurement

Drink

Bean curd (Tofu) • Soy milk

Jam • Marmalade

Sweet beans

Honey

Noodle • Fish bouillon

Ramen Soup

Pudding • Jelly

Curry • Soup

Condiments

Fruit • Vegetable

1. Taking a sample

Samples from fruits and vegetables can be extracted by juicing, squeezing or grating.

Depending on the fruit or vegetable and where the sample is extracted from, the Brix percentage may be different. To obtain an accurate reading of the fruit or vegetable, extract the juice from different parts and mix them together well.

2. Measurement Method for Fruits and Vegetables

The example methods and sugar content below were performed and tested by ATAGO. Utilize the best method for the measurement of fruits or vegetables.

	Method of Sampling	Average Sugar content
Orange	Squeeze	• Dekopon 14% • Unshu 12～14% • Wase 10～11.5% • Iyokan 12% • Amanatu 11～12% • Valencia orange 11～12% Depending on the type of orange, the sugar content may range from 7-8% in July and will rise at a rate of 1% each month.
Grapefruit	Squeeze	• 10～11%
Lemon	Squeeze	• 7～8%
Strawberry	Grate	• 8～9%
Grape	Squeeze	•Kyoho 15～20% • Pione 12.5～21% • Muscat 10.2～19.8% • Delaware 18～20% For grapes, top part of bunch is 1.5 times sweeter than near the bottom of the bunch.
Watermelon	Cut	• 9～13% Sugar content is generally higher near the center of the melon. The value will decrease towards the outer edge and near the stem.
Melon	Cut	• 13～18% Sugar content is generally higher near the center of the melon. The value will decrease towards the outer edge and near the stem.
Peach	Cut	• 12～15%
Mango	Cut	• 10～14%
Japanese medlar	Juicer	• Mogi 11～13% • Nojimawase 11～12%
Kiwi fruit	Squeeze	• 13～16%
Apple	Peel, grate and squeeze through gauze	• Kougyoku 12～14% • Sun tsugaru 13～15% • Sun fuji 14～16% • Fuji 14～17%
Pear	Peel, grate and squeeze through gauze	• Tyojyuro 11～12% • Nijyusseiki 11～13% • Kousui 11～14% • Housui 11～15% • Nausui 14～16%
Pineapple	Cut	• 14～15%
Cherry	Grate	• Satonishiki 12～13% • American cherry 14～17%
Japanese persimmon	Cut	• Fuyu 15～18% • Maekawa Jiro 16～17%

	Method of Sampling	Average Sugar content
Tomato	Squeeze	• Momotaro 5～6% • Mini tomato 6～7% Recently some varieties of tomatoes are sweeter and can have up to a 10% Sugar Content.
Japanese radish (Upper Part)	Peel and squeeze through gauze	• 3～4%
Japanese radish (Lower Part)	Peel and squeeze through gauze	• 2～3%
Carrot	Peel and squeeze through gauze	• 5～7%
Cucumber	Peel and squeeze through gauze	• Fukushima 5～7%
Eggplant	Peel and squeeze through gauze	• 4～5%
Leek (Upper Part)	Finely chop and then squeeze through gauze	• 4～5%
Leek (Lower Part)	Juicer	• 7～8%
Green pepper	Grate and squeeze	• 3～5%
Pumpkin	Squeeze through gauze – Do not include seeds	• 19～20%
Potato	Peel and squeeze through gauze	• Mayqueen 4～5% • Dansyaku 5～6%
Sweet potato	Peel and squeeze through gauze	• 8～12%
Corn	Juicer	• 14～17%

3.Measuring Method

● Hand-Held Refractometers  <MASTER-α, T, M>
1) Apply one or two drops of juice to the prism surface. Close the daylight plate and make sure the sample is distributed evenly over the prism while eliminating any air bubbles.   2) Look through the eyepiece. Read the boundary line where the blue and the white color meet. This is the Brix(%)

● "Pocket" Refractometers  <PAL-1>
1) Apply 2-3 drops of juice (0.3ml) onto the prism surface. Make sure that the sample is distributed evenly.   2) Press the START key. The measurement value is displayed digitally.

4.Purpose for measurement

 ● Advantages for fruits and vegetables grower

1.Determine the best time for harvest.

2.Ensure that consumers can have the very best tasting fruits and vegetables.

3.Offer the most delicious fruits when tourists visit the orchard.

4.Adjust the amount of water and fertilizer in the soil by monitoring the sugar content of growing plants.

5.Useful for determining the sweetness when grading fruits or vegetables.

6.An effective tool at Agricultural Cooperative Associations or in Agricultural Research institutes.

 ● Advantage for selling fruits or vegetables at the market

The sugar content of fruits determines its sweetness. At the supermarket, the sugar content will inform the consumer how fresh (and sweet) the fruits and vegetables are. If the sugar content is displayed on the fruit and vegetable bins, the consumer will know the quality of the products they are going to purchase.