Avoiding economic losses by proper segregation of apples based on maturity indicators prior to storage

G. Yom Din, Z. Zugman, Y. Saks, M. Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Economic losses resulting from inadequate segregation of fruit for different periods of storage in the packinghouse lead to decreased revenue for the farmer and increased costs to the packinghouse. This paper proposes an operationally practical decision-making procedure for apple segregation prior to storage based on maturity indicators, and taking into account the capacity of the packinghouse facilities. A segregation criterion is proposed to transform the quantity of apple needed to fill storage rooms into maturity restrictions, on the basis of information available in real time prior to storage. The calculation of maturity restrictions is based on a short-term prediction of maturity indicators. The loss function, presented in an "all-or-nothing" form, is utilized to compare the economic efficiency of the decision-making procedure for different methods of prediction and for present practice of apple segregation by the "first in-last out" rule. A simulation model is used for numerical realization of the proposed method of apple segregation with industrial data.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)193-208
Number of pages16
JournalComputers and Electronics in Agriculture
Volume39
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Aug 2003

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study was funded by the Israeli Ministry of Science (Grant 0350). We wished to thank the Peirot HaGolan packinghouse for the relevant data.

Keywords

  • Decision-making
  • Fruit packinghouse
  • Maturity restriction
  • Prediction models
  • Simulation model

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Forestry
  • Agronomy and Crop Science
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Horticulture

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