RipeSense labels, which tell shoppers when fruit is ripe to eat, are to be introduced in British supermarkets. The colour-coded labels are to be tried in Tesco stores. RipeSense packs feature a traffic light-style system to measure the condition of the fruit inside. When the sensor shows red, the fruit is crunchy, orange indicates it is firm and yellow means it is juicy.

The sensors react to aromas released by the fruit during the ripening process and change colour to indicate the state of the fruit.

The company behind the concept says that by providing an accurate idea of how ripe the fruit was, the sensors will help shoppers to reduce wastage by picking fruit in the condition they require and plan more precisely when to eat it.

Trade magazine The Grocer reported that the packaging will initially only be used on pears in the Tesco Finest range but an avocado indicator is also in development and is expected to become commercially available soon.

Tesco is planning to launch the packaging shortly and other supermarket chains are believed to be weighing it up.

The Grocer reported that Fresh Technologies UK has signed a distribution deal this month with New Zealand-based packaging specialist RipeSense. The technology was originally developed in New Zealand in 2004.

Richard King, managing director of Fresh Technologies UK, told the magazine: "This technology is both new and exciting for the UK sector and complements our existing business activities perfectly. We look forward to introducing this technology through our existing marketing channels."

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk