Apple Scanner & Going with Joe

Apple Scanner & Going with Joe. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

The Martin’s recently gave up our morning cup of Joe for something a bit more tame. The caffeine was starting to really keep us on the go more than we needed. Now Research into potential biofuel feedstock sources has produced some interesting possibilities according to Joe Thompson of the University of Idaho which include coffee and some soldier flies.

THOMPSON: Anything that has oil in it and even biomass for that matter. After the coffee is made those grounds usually go to a compost pile or even to a landfill but there’s oil in that and that can be extracted and made into biodiesel. The soldier fly eats manure and then can be harvested and then squeezed to get the fat.

I think I’ll leave that one alone.

USDA scientists in Beltsville, Maryland, have developed and patented an experimental, cutting-edge optical scanning system that would use two different kinds of lighting, a sophisticated camera and other pieces of equipment to scrutinize apples and other fresh produce items while they are still at the packinghouse. The system would provide, in a single image, evidence of certain kinds of defects, such as cuts and bruises, or contaminants. Contaminants might include specks of fertilizer or field soil. Right now it can only get a 180 degree view of the apple and they are working for a full 360 degree view.

Now here’s today’s Washington Grange report.

(Grange)

That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.