System and method for evaluating fruits and vegetables

1. A method of non-destructively determining characteristics of a vegetable or fruit, the method comprising:

creating at least one profile for a cultivar of a vegetable or fruit;

processing an image of a vegetable or fruit to produce image analysis results;

analyzing light emitted by a Near Infrared Reflectance (NIR) device and reflected from the vegetable or fruit to produce reflection analysis results; and

calculating, and presenting to a user, a score for the vegetable or fruit based on matching the image and reflection analyses results with the profile.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the profile and the analyses results include a value that represents a ripeness and a value that represents a quality.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

obtaining a cultivar of the vegetable or fruit; and

calculating the at least one value based on the cultivar.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising calculating the at least one value based on at least one of: a geographic region and a date.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving an image of a plurality of vegetables or fruit; and

calculating, for the plurality of vegetables or fruit, scores of the best and worst vegetable or fruit.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising calculating a prediction related to at least one of: harvesting and treating of crops.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, from a plurality of users, profiles and associated scores; and

creating the profile and associating the profile with a score based on the profiles and associated scores received from the users.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising using input from a plurality of users for at least one of: creating the profile and calculating the score.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

designating at least one of: a profile and a score, as a reference; and

calculating the at least one value based on comparing at least one reference to at least one of: the image analysis results and the reflection analysis results.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising: causing a machine to select a fruit or vegetable based on at least one of: a profile and a score.

11. A system comprising:

a memory; and

a controller configured to:

create at least one profile for a cultivar of a vegetable or fruit;

process an image of the vegetable or fruit to produce image analysis results;

analyze light emitted by a Near Infrared Reflectance (NIR) device and reflected from the vegetable or fruit to produce reflection analysis results; and

calculate, and present to a user, a score for the vegetable or fruit based on matching the image and reflection analyses results with the profile.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the profile and the analyses results include a first value that represents a ripeness and a second value that represents a quality.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

obtain a cultivar of the vegetable or fruit; and

calculate the at least one value based on the cultivar.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to calculate the at least one value based on at least one of: a geographic region and a date.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive an image of a plurality of vegetables or fruit;

calculate, for the plurality of vegetables or fruit, scores of the best and worst vegetables or fruits.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to calculate a prediction related to at least one of: harvesting and treating of crops.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive, from a plurality of users, profiles and associated scores; and

create the profile and associate the profile with a score based on the profiles and associated scores received from the users.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the controller is further configured to use input from a plurality of users for at least one of: creating the profile and calculating the score.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

designate at least one of: a profile and a score, as a reference; and

calculate the at least one value based on comparing at least one reference to at least one of:

the image analysis results and the reflection analysis results.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the controller is further configured to cause a machine to select a fruit or vegetable based on at least one of: a profile and a score.