Citrus Fruits Color Measurement

The color of citrus fruits, like oranges, lemons, etc., is the first thing consumers observe and is commonly used to determine freshness and flavor quality. The color of citrus fruits also plays an important role in both the pre-harvest and post-harvest stages. The ripening process of citrus fruits is characterized by their color evolution and is often used as an indicator to determine the right harvesting time. For example, unripe oranges are green and are best harvested once they turn orange. After harvesting, citrus fruits are sorted by their color to set apart those required to undergo degreening process.

In general, the color of citrus fruits is assessed visually. While it is a quick and inexpensive method to assess color, it is prone to human bias for color selection. Additionally, the surrounding color and lighting can also influence one’s color assessment. Today, color measuring instruments are readily available and widely used within the food industry for fast, consistent, and objective color assessment.

With a color measuring instrument, the color of citrus fruits like greenness and yellowness can be assessed easily using the CIE L*a*b* and CIE L*C*h color spaces. Through the color spaces, color tolerance can also be set up for quick Pass/Fail assessment. Konica Minolta Chroma Meter CR-400 series, widely used within the food and ingredients industry, offers simple operation with high durability and reliability.

The Chroma Meter CR-400, with Φ8mm measuring area, and Chroma Meter CR-410, with Φ50mm measuring area, enables fast and objective color evaluation of citrus fruits and is suitable for both laboratory and on-site field usage. Besides the CIE L*a*b* and CIE L*C*h color spaces, user-definable evaluation or calculation formulas can also be set up for industry-specific color control applications.

The CR-400 series comes with user-defined calibration function that allows multiple units to be calibrated against a designated master unit. It helps reduce measurement uncertainty caused by Inter-Instrument Agreement (IIA) and improves reproducibility.

A wide range of accessories, like glass cells, petri-dish, sample holders, etc., are available to handle various types of samples, from solids and powder to paste and opaque liquid.

Check out this video to learn more about the simplicity and flexibility of the Chroma Meter CR-400 series.

Need help measuring the color of your citrus fruits? or having color measurement challenges? Contact our color application specialists for a free consultation or assistance now.