Preparation of pH-indicator films based on soy protein isolate/bromothymol blue and methyl red for monitoring fresh-cut apple freshness.

Intelligent pH-indicator films based on soy protein isolate (SPI) were prepared using pH-sensitive dyes (bromothymol blue and methyl red). The addition of mixed indicators imparts pH-indicator films with an appreciable microstructure, acceptable water resistance, and favorable optical properties. The incorporation of the mixed indicators did not lead to significant improvement in the mechanical properties of films due to weak ionic cross-linking by hydrogen bonding between the SPI macromolecules and low-molecular-weight indicators. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy indicated hydrogen bond-mediated intermolecular interactions, and scanning electron microscopy showed that BB/MR were well dispersed in the SPI film. The indicator addition hindered the sorption and passage of water molecules. The water vapor permeability, moisture sorption, moisture content, and total soluble matter were 4.32 to 6.12 ×10-12  g·cm/cm2 ·s·Pa, 36.70% to 73.33%, 25.28% to 44.11%, and 8.21% to 25.56%, respectively. Also, the addition of indicators reduced UV light transmittance with minimal effect on the transparency of the film. The presence of indicators enhanced the pH sensitivity, seen as a visible color reaction at different pHs (total color difference, ΔE > 5). When the pH-indicator film containing 8 ml/100 ml final film emulsions was used to monitor the fresh-cut apple freshness, a green color for fresh status was observed, which turned blue after 60 h. Collectively, our findings suggested that indicator-containing SPI films have the potential for monitoring the freshness of fruits. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: pH-indicator films can help consumers to identify the freshness of packaged food by a change in the color of the packaging material, which is easily visible to the unaided eye without the need for opening the packaging. This protects consumers' interests.

Sensory characterization of two California-grown avocado varieties (Persea americana Mill.) over the harvest season by descriptive analysis and consumer tests.

In this work, descriptive analysis (DA) and consumer panels were conducted on "Hass" and "3-29-5" (GEM® ) avocados, grown in southern California. Both panels encompassed at least five time points across the 2019 harvest season. The DA panel identified and evaluated overall richness, creamy, smooth, watery, oily, sweet, bitter, umami, salty, astringent, buttery, nutty, and green. The texture attributes received the highest scores in both "Hass" and "3-29-5." Both varieties increased in richness, creaminess, and oiliness at harvests 5 and 6. The consumer panel found that "3-29-5" showed more changes in its eating experience over the season than "Hass," which agreed with dry weight data collected in a simultaneous analytical study. Correspondence analysis indicated that "Hass" samples had a consistent sensory profile over the harvest season, whereas "3-29-5" changed substantially, becoming more closely associated with a positive eating experience late in the harvest season. This is the first work to characterize avocado flavor over the harvest season using both trained and consumer sensory panels. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Many aspects of avocado were found to have some impact on flavor, but textural properties were by far the most important in determining how well the fruit was liked. This information will be useful in future taste evaluations of avocado and the ongoing development of new avocado varieties.

Essential oils loaded-chitosan nanocapsules incorporation in biodegradable starch films: A strategy to improve fruits shelf life.

Thermoplastic starch (TPS) films filled with chitosan nanocapsules (CN) containing essential oils (EO) were prepared aiming active packaging. Two different EOs were studied: Ho wood (H) and Cinnamon (C). Besides, different capsules concentrations were investigated (1, 3, and 5 wt%), and the films were evaluated by chemical structure, thermal stability, crystallinity, water vapor permeability, antimicrobial assays, and potential application for strawberry packaging. The TPS/CN-Ho wood films showed a strong interaction between chitosan-starch, mainly for 3 and 5 wt%, confirmed by XRD. The FT-Raman spectra of TPS/CN-Cinnamon film indicated that Cinnamon EO quickly migrated to starch films, probably due to the new crystal structure, named C-type, affecting the film's water permeability. The addition of 1 and 3 wt% CN loaded with Ho wood or Cinnamon EO to the films decreased the water permeability. 3 wt% CN was the optimum concentration to inhibit the Escherichia coli or Bacillus subtillis growth on the films, confirming their biological activity. The films' preservation properties were evaluated using strawberries, and films with 1 or 3 wt% loaded-CN could extend the strawberries' shelf life without fungi contamination. The developed TPS films can be used as active food packaging or other films for biomedical or pharmaceutical applications.

The inside story of fruits; exploring the truth behind conventional theories.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Consumption of fruits and vegetables are important to prevent several diet related diseases. Many dietary guidelines including world health organization (WHO) recommend at least two fruits per day. Our aim here is to highlight theoretical deficiencies in the field of nutritional science that would possibly cause misinterpretations to assess the fruit intake worldwide. METHODS: Information regarding fruits and vegetables serving sizes were obtained from WHO, National Health Service UK, American Heart Association and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Nutritional compositions of fruits were collected from the USDA, FoodData Central database. RESULTS: Three main problems causing misinterpretations to the measurement of global fruit intake were identified. First, the absence of a clear definition to classify a fruit; second, lacking a scientific justification for the nutritional composition of servings of fruits; and thirdly, absence of a standard amount or size for a serving of fruits. Since the carbohydrates are the main nutrient in the fruits, it was suggested to determine the serving size according to the 15 g. CONCLUSIONS: Nutrition experts and other reputed international organizations must focus their attention on scientifically backed definitions and serving size estimations of fruits.

Selection and validation reference genes for qRT-PCR normalization in different cultivars during fruit ripening and softening of peach (Prunus persica).

Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) has been emerged as an effective method to explore the gene function and regulatory mechanisms. However, selecting appropriate reference gene (s) is a prerequisite for obtaining accurate qRT-PCR results. Peach is one of important fruit in Rosaceae and is widely cultivated worldwide. In this study, to explore reliable reference gene (s) in peach with different types during fruit ripening and softening (S1-S4), nine candidate reference genes (EF-1α, GAPDH, TBP, UBC, eIF-4α, TUB-A, TUB-B, ACTIN, and HIS) were selected from the whole-genome data. Then, the expression levels of the nine selected genes were detected using qRT-PCR in three peach types, including 'Hakuho' (melting type), 'Xiacui' (stony hard type), 'Fantasia' and 'NJC108' (non-melting type) cultivars were detected using qRT-PCR. Four software (geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper and RefFinder) were applied to evaluate the expression stability of these candidate reference genes. Gene expression was characterized in different peach types during fruit ripening and softening stages. The overall performance of each candidate in all samples was evaluated. The Actin gene (ACTIN) was a suitable reference gene and displayed excellent stability in 'Total' set, 'Hakuho' samples, S3 and S4 fruit developmental stages. Ubiquitin C gene (UBC) showed the best stability in most independent samples, including 'Fantasia', 'NJC108', S2 sets. Elongation factor-1α gene (EF-1α) was the most unstable gene across the set of all samples, 'NJC108' and S2 sets, while showed the highest stability in 'Xiacui' samples. The stability of candidate reference genes was further verified by analyzing the relative expression level of ethylene synthase gene of Prunus persica (PpACS1) in fruit ripening and softening periods of 'Hakuho'. Taken together, the results from this study provide a basis for future research on the mining of important functional genes, expression patterns and regulatory mechanisms in peach.

Application of artificial neural network and support vector regression in predicting mass of ber fruits (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.) based on fruit axial dimensions.

Fruit quality attributes are important factors for designing a market for agricultural goods and commodities. Support vector regression (SVR), MLR, and ANN models were established to predict the mass of ber fruits (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.) based on the axial dimensions of the fruit from manual measurements of fruit length, minor fruit diameter, and maximum fruit diameter of four ber cultivars. The precision and accuracy of the established models were assessed given their predicted values. The results revealed that using the validation dataset, the developed ANN (R2 = 0.9771; root mean square error [RMSE] = 1.8479 g) and SVR (R2 = 0.9947; RMSE = 1.8814 g) models produced better results when predicting ber fruit mass than those obtained by the MLR model (R2 = 0.4614; RMSE = 11.3742 g). In estimating ber fruit mass, the established SVR and ANN models produced more precise prediction values than those produced by the MLR model; however, the performance differences between the SVR and ANN models were not clear.

Metabolite alteration in response to low phosphorus stress in developing tomato fruits.

Alteration of fruit quality caused by environmental stress is a common but largely unresolved issue for plant cultivation and breeding practices. Phosphorus (P) deficiency may interfere with a variety of metabolic processes whose intermediate products are correlated with important fruit quality traits. However, how low P stress affects fruit quality has not been investigated in detail. In this study, we assessed the contents of major metabolites associated with tomato fruit quality under two low P treatments that started at the seedling or flowering stage. The major pigments and the key organic acids related to fruit sourness were differentially over-accumulated as fruit ripened under two low P treatments compared to those under the control treatment, while the total content of soluble sugars contributing to fruit sweetness was substantially reduced under both treatments. These changes were largely attributed to the alteration of enzyme activities in the relevant metabolic pathways. In particular, we found that low P stress from different developmental stages had differential effects on the activation of γ-aminobutyric acid shunt that were likely responsible for the preferential accumulation of different organic acids in tomato fruits. Our study suggested that low P stress strongly affected tomato fruit quality and the effects appeared to be variable under different regimes of low P conditions.

Methyl jasmonate alleviates chilling injury and keeps intact pericarp structure of pomegranate during low temperature storage.

Pomegranate is a kind of fruit with low temperature sensitivity. Abnormal low temperature can easily lead to chilling injury, which negatively impacts the appearance of fruit, accelerates browning and deterioration, as well as seriously reduces the consumption quality and commodity value of pomegranate. This study was carried out to determine the effect of methyl jasmonate on chilling injury of pomegranate during low temperature storage. The result showed that methyl jasmonate treatment effectively maintained edible quality of pomegranate, suppressed the polyphenol oxidase activity and the development of chilling injury index, and inhibited the decline of total phenol content and the increase of malondialdehyde content and cell membrane permeability. In addition, methyl jasmonate could also enhance the disease resistance of fruit by increasing the content of soluble protein, and effectively maintain the integrity of epidermal cell structure and tissue structure. Overall, the conclusion of this paper is that methyl jasmonate can be used as an effective means to suppress chilling injury in postharvest storage of pomegranate.

Metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses highlight the influence of lipid changes on the post-harvest softening of Pyrus ussurian Max. 'Zaoshu Shanli'.

How lipids influence post-harvest softening in pears is not well understood. LC-MS/MS (Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) and RNA-Seq analyses of 'Zaoshu Shanli' (ZSSL) pears were conducted during post-harvest storage. This approach enabled the identification of 98 different metabolites that upregulated and 95 that downregulated at 18 days post-harvest in ZSSL fruits to day 0. Metabolites were significantly enriched in KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathways including glycerophospholipid metabolism and glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchor biosynthesis. When comparing fruits from day 18 to those from day 0 post-harvest, RNA-seq analyses further highlighted 6496 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in ZSSL fruits that were significantly enriched in KEGG pathways including glycerophospholipid metabolism and fatty acid degradation. Overall, these results suggested that glycerophospholipid metabolism is closely related to the post-harvest softening of pears. Further research will be essential in order to fully explore the functional implications of and mechanistic basis for these findings.

Table Grapes during Postharvest Storage: A Review of the Mechanisms Implicated in the Beneficial Effects of Treatments Applied for Quality Retention.

Table grape is a fruit with increasing interest due to its attributes and nutritional compounds. During recent years, new cultivars such as those without seeds and with new flavors have reached countries around the world. For this reason, postharvest treatments that retain fruit quality need to be improved. However, little is known to date about the biochemical and molecular mechanisms related with observed quality improvements. This review aims to examine existing literature on the different mechanisms. Special attention will be placed on molecular mechanisms which activate and regulate the different postharvest treatments applied in order to improve table grape quality.

Exploration of a Resequenced Tomato Core Collection for Phenotypic and Genotypic Variation in Plant Growth and Fruit Quality Traits.

A tomato core collection consisting of 122 gene bank accessions, including landraces, old cultivars, and wild relatives, was explored for variation in several plant growth, yield and fruit quality traits. The resequenced accessions were also genotyped with respect to a number of mutations or variations in key genes known to underlie these traits. The yield-related traits fruit number and fruit weight were much higher in cultivated varieties when compared to wild accessions, while, in wild tomato accessions, Brix was higher than in cultivated varieties. Known mutations in fruit size and shape genes could well explain the fruit size variation, and fruit colour variation could be well explained by known mutations in key genes of the carotenoid and flavonoid pathway. The presence and phenotype of several plant architecture affecting mutations, such as self-pruning (sp), compound inflorescence (s), jointless-2 (j-2), and potato leaf (c) were also confirmed. This study provides valuable phenotypic information on important plant growth- and quality-related traits in this collection. The allelic distribution of known genes that underlie these traits provides insight into the role and importance of these genes in tomato domestication and breeding. This resource can be used to support (precision) breeding strategies for tomato crop improvement.

An efficient LSPR method to quantitatively detect dimethoate: Development, characterization and evaluation.

In recent years, there has been growing concern among consumers about pesticide contamination in fruits. Therefore, rapid, reliable, and consistent detection methods for OPPs, especially dimethoate, are crucially needed. The existing quantitative methods for detecting dimethoate are not suitable for rapid measuring system such as the dimethoate samples from two channels. Hence this paper examines the utilization of a dual-channel system for utilize the absorption variations of the Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) bands of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were investigate for detection of dimethoate. Under optimized conditions, the relationship between concentrations of dimethoate and absorbance ratios (A(520)/A(640)) was linearly found in the concentration range of 10-100 nM. Result from the experiment shows that both channels exhibit a linear correlation coefficient as high as 0.97 and a limit of detection (LOD) as low as 5.5 nM. This LSPR detection system was characterized by testing the dimethoate in apple samples and the recovery rates were found to be in the range of 85.90% to 107.37%. The proposed dual-channel LSPR system for detecting dimethoate creating a new approach for detecting organophosphate insecticide in agricultural fields. It could lay the foundation for designing a high-throughput analysis of the insecticides using a wavelength division multiplexing switch (WDMS).

Transcriptome analysis of metabolisms related to fruit cracking during ripening of a cracking-susceptible grape berry cv. Xiangfei (Vitis vinifera L.).

BACKGROUND: Grape is an economically valuable fruit around the world. However, some cultivars are prone to fruit cracking during ripening, leading to severe losses. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to find important metabolisms related to fruit cracking during ripening process. METHODS: RNA-Sequence and analysis was applied to the pericarp of cracking-susceptible 'Xiang Fei' at 1 (W1), 2 (W2) and 3 weeks (W3) after veraison on Illumina HiSeq xten; RESULTS: Compared with W1, the berry cracking rate increased significantly in W2 and W3. Through transcriptomic analysis, a total of 22,609 genes were expressed in the grape pericarp, among which 805 and 2758 genes were significantly differentially regulated in W1-vs.-W2 and W1-vs.-W3 comparison, respectively. Besides, 304 and 354 genes were up- and down-regulated in both comparisons. The significantly enriched GO terms of both W1-W2 and W1-W3 are related to cell wall and wax biosynthesis. And lipid metabolism, which are involved in the top 20 enriched KEGG pathways of both comparisons, was related to wax biosynthesis. Further, GO enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with same regulatory changes also indicated that the continuously up-regulated DEGs are significantly enriched in cell wall component biosynthesis and hydrolase. CONCLUSION: These findings suggested that genes related to cell wall metabolism and cuticle biosynthesis may play important roles in regulating grape berry cracking. Our results provide a reference for further studies on the molecular mechanism underlying fruit cracking.

Optimal fertigation for high yield and fruit quality of greenhouse strawberry.

Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and water are four crucial factors that have significant effects on strawberry yield and fruit quality. We used a 11 that involved 36 treatments with five levels of each of the four variables (N, P, and K fertilizers and water) to optimize fertilization and water combination for high yield and quality. Moreover, we used the SSC/TA ratio (the ratio of soluble solid content to titratable acid) as index of quality. Results showed that N fertilizer was the most important factor, followed by water and P fertilizer, and the N fertilizer had significant effect on yield and SSC/TA ratio. By contrast, the K fertilizer had significant effect only on yield. N×K fertilizer interacted significantly on yield, whereas the other interactions among the four factors had no significant effects on yield or SSC/TA ratio. The effects of the four factors on yield and SSC/TA ratio were ranked as N fertilizer > water > K fertilizer > P fertilizer and N fertilizer > P fertilizer > water > K fertilizer, respectively. The yield and SSC/TA ratio increased when NPK fertilizer and water increased, but then decreased when excessive NPK fertilizer and water were applied. The optimal fertilizer and water combination were 22.28-24.61 g plant-1 Ca (NO3)2·4H2O, 1.75-2.03 g plant-1 NaH2PO4, 12.41-13.91 g plant-1 K2SO4, and 12.00-13.05 L water plant-1 for yields of more than 110 g plant-1 and optimal SSC/TA ratio of 8.5-14.

Incentivizing Healthy Snacks During Out-of-School Time Through Grocery Store Partnerships.

CONTEXT: Volunteer-led out-of-school-time (OST) programs, such as 4-H, scouting, and youth sports, reach a large population of children and are positioned to offer opportunities for healthy eating. However, cost is a barrier to providing healthy snacks such as fruits and vegetables (FVs) during OST. OBJECTIVE: Offering discounts through grocery store partnerships has shown promise in addressing this barrier in structured, staff-led after-school programs. We tested this model in volunteer-led OST programs and evaluated it using mixed methods. DESIGN/SETTING: The Snack It Up (SIU) intervention was designed to promote FV snacks to volunteer-led OST programs through weekly $5 grocery store discounts. Participation was limited to 1 leader per program. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-five of 36 recruited OST program leaders completed the study; 16 were enrolled in SIU and 19 in a comparison group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We assessed the following: (1) discount redemption among SIU leaders; (2) snacks served by SIU and comparison group leaders via photographs from 3 to 4 OST program sessions during SIU implementation; and (3) SIU leader perspectives using key informant interviews before and after implementation. RESULTS: SIU leaders saved an average of $48.75 on FV snacks throughout the intervention ($2.90 per week, more than one-fifth of typical self-reported spending on snacks). SIU leaders also served a greater frequency (100% of sessions vs 75%, P < .001) and variety of FVs (an average of 3.5 types per session vs 1.3, P < .001) and fewer salty/sweet snacks (0.0 vs 1.3 types per session, P < .001) than those in the comparison group and expressed positive impressions of SIU. CONCLUSIONS: Partnerships between OST programs and grocery stores are a promising avenue for promoting healthier snacks during OST.

The effect of nudges aligned with the renewed Flemish Food Triangle on the purchase of fresh fruits: An on-campus restaurant experiment.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effect of nudges, inspired by the recently renewed Flemish Food Triangle, on fruit sales in a Belgian on-campus university restaurant. METHODS: In this mixed-method real-life experiment, nudges were added weekly over a period of four consecutive weeks: placement of (1) Food Triangle posters in the restaurant, (2) 'green heart' icons above the fruit stands, and (3) substitution and (4) social norm messages at the fruit stands. During baseline (no intervention) and all intervention weeks, dessert sales were registered. Short interviews were used to ask customers about their perceptions regarding the intervention. Follow-up measurements (7 and 30 weeks later) evaluated the longer-term effectiveness, while all nudges remained in place. Dessert sales were analyzed separately for both sexes, students and staff categories (based on academic degree). RESULTS: Compared to baseline, the combination of the Food Triangle and the green heart intervention materials in week 2 resulted in significant increases in fruit consumption across almost all subgroups. The other intervention materials used in the current study had rather limited effects in the short term. After 7 weeks of follow-up, significant fruit sale increases were established for all subgroups compared to baseline. At 30 weeks follow-up, the effect for staff B (Bachelor's degree) disappeared. The majority of the respondents (66.4%) had noticed at least one of the nudges, while only 3.4% indicated to have adjusted their dessert choice as a result of the nudges. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of nudges was effective in the long term and increased fruit purchase in nearly all subgroups. Short interviews show that a more active approach may be needed to increase effect sizes.

A novel and sensitive ratiometric fluorescence assay for carbendazim based on N-doped carbon quantum dots and gold nanocluster nanohybrid.

A novel fluorescence "turn on" ratiometric fluorescent sensor was employed to determine carbendazim. The sensing process was achieved through the strong fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between nitrogen doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) and gold nanocluster (AuNCs). The photoluminescence intensity of N-CQDs can be deactivated by AuNCs through FRET effect and recovered by the addition of carbendazim. The ratiometric detection of carbendazim is achieved by recording the photoluminescence and second-order Rayleigh scattering (SRS) signal of N-CQDs/AuNCs system. With the introduction of carbendazim to the sensing platform resulted in the photoluminescence and SRS signal of N-CQDS/AuNCs enhancing. UV-vis absorption, Zeta potential and fluorescence lifetime analyses indicate that the fluorescence turn on process can be attributed to the aggregation of AuNCs breaks the FRET process and increases SRS intensity. N-CQDs/AuNCs probe present a good sensitivity and selectivity for carbendazim detection, with two linear response ranges (1-100 µM, 150-1000 µM), low detection limit of 0.83 µM and 37.25 µM. Furthermore, real sample analyses indicate that the as-presented sensor has potentials in carbendazim determination in real sample analyses.

1-Methylcyclopropene maintains postharvest quality in Norwegian apple fruit.

Norwegian fruit production is mostly destined for the local market and can suffer from poor-quality retention during storage. 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) is an inhibitor of ethylene perception used to maintain the physical and functional quality of pome fruit. Extensive work has been carried out on the effect of 1-MCP on apples, but not on cultivars grown in Norway. In this work, the potential of 1-MCP application (0.625 ml l -1 for 24 h at 0 ± 1℃) for ripening control of the apple cultivars 'Aroma', 'Red Gravenstein', and 'Summered' was studied during 1 and 1.5 months of cold storage; both scenarios were followed by five days of shelf life. The application of 1-MCP reduced softening by an average of 12% in 'Aroma', 'Red Gravenstein', and 'Summered' apples when cold stored for both 1 and 1.5 months as compared to control. External colour remained similar to initial values in 1-MCP fruit when compared to control apples, which presented a significant skin darkening. This indicated a delay in the ripening process. 1-MCP treatment did not affect total soluble solids content. 'Aroma' samples treated with 1-MCP showed a low sucrose hydrolysis, indicating a slower ripening process. This work confirms that 1-MCP postharvest treatment shows great potential for maintenance of apple cvs. in Norway during cold storage and shelf life.

Written Nutrition Guidelines, Client Choice Distribution, and Adequate Refrigerator Storage Are Positively Associated with Increased Offerings of Feeding America's Detailed Foods to Encourage (F2E) in a Large Sample of Arkansas Food Pantries.

BACKGROUND: Millions of food-insecure households in the United States obtain food from food pantries each year. These foods are often of insufficient nutritional quality. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to describe the frequency with which Arkansas food pantries offer foods included in Feeding America's Detailed Foods to Encourage (F2E) framework, and examine food pantry characteristics associated with increased frequency of offering F2E and other foods. DESIGN: This was a 27-item cross-sectional online survey that assessed food pantries' characteristics (eg, storage capacities, number of clients served) and typical food offerings. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: Partnering with five of Arkansas's six food banks, 764 e-mail invitations were sent to food agency managers across the state. A final sample of 357 food pantries was included in the analyses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes of interest were the frequencies of offering specific F2E and F2E in general. The F2E framework was developed by Feeding America to more accurately assess food banks' inventories, and its categories (Fruits and Vegetables; Protein; Dairy; and Grains) are generally consistent with MyPlate. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Descriptive statistics were computed for all food pantry characteristics and frequency of foods offered. Associations between food pantry characteristics and the frequency of offering F2E were examined via multiple linear regression and path analysis. RESULTS: Only 18.5% of food pantries had written nutrition guidelines, and only 19.3% offered client choice distribution. The F2E most commonly offered were meat/poultry/seafood without breading and not fried (59.6%) and peanut butter (58.2%). The least commonly offered F2E were nuts/seeds with nothing added (3.8%) and low-fat/1%/skim cheese (8.2%). Written nutrition guidelines (P<0.001), client choice distribution (P=0.003), and adequate refrigerator storage (P=0.010) were associated with more frequently offering F2E. CONCLUSIONS: This study fills a gap in knowledge by documenting food pantry characteristics that are associated with the frequencies of offering specific types of healthy foods.

Non-destructive monitoring of netted muskmelon quality based on its external phenotype using Random Forest.

The internal phenotypes of netted muskmelon (Cucumis melo L. var. eticulates Naud.) are always associated with its external phenotypes. In this study, the parameters of external phenotypic traits were extracted from muskmelon images captured by machine vision, and the internal phenotypes of interest to us were measured. Pearson analysis showed that most external phenotypic traits were highly correlated with these internal phenotypes in muskmelon fruit. In this study, we used the random forest algorithm to predict muskmelon fruit internal phenotypes based on the significantly associated external parameters. Carotenoids, sucrose, and total soluble solid (TSS) were the three most accurately monitored internal phenotypes with prediction R-squared (R2) values of 0.947 (root-mean-square error (RMSE) = 0.019 mg/100 g), 0.918 (RMSE = 3.233 mg/g), and 0.916 (RMSE = 1.089%), respectively. Further, a simplified model was constructed and validated based on the top 10 external phenotypic parameters associated with each internal phenotype, and these parameters were filtered with the varImp function from the random forest package. The top 10 external phenotypic parameters correlated with each internal phenotype used in the simplified model were not identical. The results showed that the simplified models also accurately monitored the melon internal phenotypes, despite that the predicted R2 values decreased 0.3% to 7.9% compared with the original models. This study improved the efficiency and accuracy of real-time fruit quality monitoring for greenhouse muskmelon.