Exciting News: Clarifruit has Rebranded to Clarifresh!

July 30, 2023

AI & Computer Vision for Fresh Produce Quality Control: a Conversation with Roman Mirochnik

  • Uncategorized
Share in
Clarifruit's team

Once the stuff of science fiction, AI & computer vision is now one of the most important tools for guaranteeing the quality of the fresh produce that arrives in your local supermarket. We could think of nobody better to talk about this topic than our very own Roman Mirochnik, Head of AI & Computer Vision at Clarifruit.

We decided to ask him some questions about how computer vision works in fresh produce quality control, why it’s so important, and how Clarifruit is leading the way in this ever-evolving field.

Here’s how our conversation went.

First things first: can you help us understand what Computer Vision does?

In the context of fruit quality control, computer vision systems use cameras or sensors to capture images of produce. Algorithms then extract relevant features like color, texture, and shape in order to identify any deviations from the desired quality standards.

This really matters for customers, because automating these processes speeds up inspections and eliminates human error. I’m sure we’ll get to that a little later.

What exactly is your role as Head of Computer Vision at Clarifruit?

Basically, our role is to bring the power of AI to the world of AgriTech. To do that, we have a dedicated team responsible for making the whole Clarifruit system work flawlessly for our customers. Our goal is to ensure that they always get the accurate results they need, quickly and easily.

We develop all the algorithms that perform these calculations, and the vegetables and fruit apps and systems running behind the scenes. In essence, we help our customers to transition their quality control processes into the AI era, and automate the way they evaluate essential attributes of their produce.

Pictured above: An inspector in the field using Clarifruit’s AI to automatically, in real-time, capture external attributes of pineapples.

What attributes does Clarifruit support right now?

So first, let me explain how we think about attributes. We classify them into a number of levels, increasing in complexity as you go up.

Level 1 includes all attributes that you can manually assess and enter the values into our digital application. All data is entered in a structured manner so it’s available for manipulation.

At level 2, we use computer vision to measure straightforward attributes like size, color and stem condition.

Level 3 is where defects analysis comes in – and that’s where things get more complex, because each produce category has its own specific set of defects. And within each category, you have to distinguish between progressive and quality defects.

For example, imagine you have a shipment of oranges. You find one unit with a cosmetic defect that makes it look unappealing, but with no impact on its overall quality, or the quality of the other oranges. But if there’s mold, it will spread and destroy the other oranges. So our customers need to be able to differentiate between these types of defects – and that is part of what we use computer vision to automate.

What are your biggest challenges, and how have you overcome them?

One of the most difficult problems we’ve had to deal with is that we don’t have any control over how customers take photos of their fresh produce. One inspector may take a photo of a fruit or vegetable inside the warehouse, while another takes photos outdoors in sunlight. The context, lighting and quality in these images varies a great deal, so we’ve had to make sure that our computer vision algorithm can work with all of them and deliver accurate results.

The algorithm needs to be able to successfully identify the right produce category, and run the appropriate calculations, so we have to test and refine it to make sure we’re covering a vast number of potential scenarios. It’s a huge challenge, but I’m proud to say that our team has pulled it off.

What value does computer vision bring to Clarifruit customers?

That’s a great question, because everything we do here is about driving value for our customers. The way I see it, there are a few major advantages that a computer vision system like ours gives to our customers:

First, I’ll talk about objectivity. Think of an attribute like color. One inspector looks at a fruit and decides that it belongs in color group A. Another inspector evaluates the exact same item as color group B. This subjectivity is very problematic – but it’s also unavoidable when you rely on manual inspections. Computer vision solves this problem entirely, because it’s always objective.

Companies can also save a lot of time on training. In the past, training inspectors took a long time, and it was highly specialized. With a computer vision system, you don’t need that. Anyone can perform these inspections by simply taking a picture.

Another benefit is of course speed. Instead of measuring each individual item in a shipment, the inspector can just take a few pictures and Clarifruit generates the results instantly. You also get results for all attributes at the same time: stem condition, size, color, and so on. So you can measure more fruits and vegetables, in less time, and more accurately.

You can see why this is making quality control so much easier than it was before and even enables new business models to assess quality throughout the supply chain.

In addition to the benefits mentioned above, quality control software powered by computer vision, like Clarifruit, offers a centralized platform for managing and analyzing quality control data. By digitizing the entire quality control process, businesses can easily track and monitor the performance of their supply chain, identify areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions. The software also enables seamless collaboration among team members, suppliers, and customers, ensuring that everyone is on the same page when it comes to quality standards. This level of transparency and accountability is crucial for building trust and long-lasting relationships in the fresh produce industry.

Moreover, the insights generated by computer vision systems like Clarifruit’s go beyond just streamlining the quality control process. The data collected can be analyzed to identify trends, patterns, and potential issues in the supply chain. For example, if a particular supplier consistently delivers produce with a higher rate of defects, this information can be used to address the issue proactively. By leveraging the power of data analytics, companies can make informed decisions to optimize their operations, reduce waste, and improve overall quality.

Another significant benefit of AI-powered quality control solutions is their scalability. As businesses grow and their supply chains become more complex, traditional manual inspection methods become increasingly inefficient and costly. With a computer vision system, companies can easily scale their quality control processes to accommodate larger volumes of produce without compromising on accuracy or speed. This scalability is crucial for businesses looking to expand their operations and stay competitive in the ever-evolving fresh produce industry.

So, what’s in the pipeline?

Earlier I told you about levels 1 – 3, so that everything from basic external attributes to important defects for each produce category. Looking ahead, we intend to eventually integrate levels 4 & 5. At these levels, we’ll be looking at internal attributes, things like sugar level, acidity, dry weight, et cetera. But that requires different kinds of sensors like infrared and hyperspectral technology. Those technologies aren’t mature yet for our customers’ use cases at the field or the DCs but our long term plan is to lead the way there, too.

Eventually, Clarifruit will support all produce categories and measure all attributes and defects at these levels. So it will be an even more powerful platform than it is now. We’re pretty excited about the future, to be honest. I see Clarifruit dominating this field in the next few years, and providing the solid, accurate results that the Fresh Produce supply chain, including consumers down the road, are going to need in the future.

The Future of Fresh Produce Quality Control

Looking beyond the immediate horizon, fresh produce quality control is poised to undergo even more dramatic transformations. With the integration of blockchain technology and IoT sensors, quality control systems will be able to provide complete traceability from farm to fork, while simultaneously monitoring and adjusting storage conditions in real-time. This evolution in fresh produce quality control will not only ensure better product quality but will also help reduce food waste and improve sustainability throughout the supply chain. The combination of these technologies with advanced computer vision systems will create a comprehensive quality management ecosystem that can predict and prevent quality issues before they occur.

Democratizing Fresh Produce Quality Control

Perhaps one of the most exciting developments in fresh produce quality control is its increasing accessibility to businesses of all sizes. What was once the domain of large corporations with substantial resources is now becoming available to smaller producers and distributors through cloud-based solutions and mobile applications. This democratization of fresh produce quality control technology is helping to level the playing field in the industry, enabling smaller players to compete more effectively while maintaining the high quality standards that consumers demand. As these technologies continue to evolve and become more affordable, we can expect to see even greater adoption across the entire fresh produce sector.

Ready to learn more? There’s so much more that we could say about computer vision. Reach out to our team to schedule your own free demo and keep the conversation going.

 

Share in

Perfect your quality management for everything fresh.