Fruit sizing chart: selection and grading guide

In the fruit and vegetable trade, fruit size is a crucial factor in ensuring quality, uniformity, and product enhancement. The division into size categories allows for market standardization and improved selection, making fruit more attractive to consumers and more manageable for producers.
Citrus sorting tables, apples and peaches are essential tools for sorting fruit by diameter and weight. This classification helps in pricing,
In creating uniform batches and reducing waste. Here is a general table for fruit sizing:

Product	Caliber category	Diameter (mm)	Average weight (g)	Prevalent destination
Apples	Extra	> 85	> 220	Export / premium
Apples	I	75 – 85	170 – 220	GDO
Apples	II	65 – 75	120 – 170	Standard packages
Pears	Extra	> 70	> 200	Export / premium
Pears	I	60 – 70	150 – 200	GDO
Peaches	A	> 90	> 250	High-end fruit and vegetables
Peaches	B	80 – 90	200 – 250	GDO
Peaches	C	70 – 80	150 – 200	Local markets
Flat peaches	Large	> 85	> 200	Export / bulk
Apricots	A	45 – 55	45 – 70	Packaging / GDO
Plums	A	45 – 55	60 – 90	Retail/export packaging
Kiwis	Jumbo	> 70	> 150	Premium / export
Kiwis	Standard	55 – 70	90 – 150	GDO
Melons	Caliber 3	> 150	> 1000	Bulk sale
Persimmons	Great	> 75	> 250	Fresh or processing
Pomegranates	A	> 90	> 300	Export / processing
Dates	Premium	> 25	> 12	Gift wrapping
Dates	Standard	20 – 25	9 – 12	GDO
Dates	Industrial	< 20	< 9	Transformation
Avocados	Great	> 80	> 300	Export / bulk
Avocados	Medium	65 – 80	200 – 300	GDO
Mangos	A	> 100	> 400	Premium
Dragon fruit	Unique	> 100	> 350	Special Markets
Citrus fruits (clementines)	1	> 85	> 200	Premium export
Citrus fruits (clementines)	2	75 – 85	150 – 200	GDO
Citrus fruits (clementines)	3	65 – 75	100 – 150	Multipack
Tomatoes (cherry)	S	< 25	< 25	Snack
Tomatoes (medium)	M	25 – 35	25 – 50	GDO
Tomatoes (large / bunch)	L	> 35	> 50	Fresh Market
Peppers	L / XL	70 – 110	200 – 400	GDO / processing
Aubergines	M / L	60 – 90	150 – 300	GDO
Courgettes	S / M	20 – 50	100 – 250	Packages
Cucumbers	Length	–	200 – 300	Retail packaging
Potato	Great	60 – 80	200 – 400	Retail / industry
Onions	M / L	50 – 90	100 – 300	Network sales
Garlic	Standard	35 – 55	30 – 80	Packs or braids

Download the fruit sizing chart from Futura Grading

Fruit sizing chart and commercial enhancement strategies

Calibration is not just a technical process, but a strategic marketing lever. A fruit selected with precision for size category and visual quality can be placed in different commercial segments, increasing the perceived value and profitability of production. For example, Extra-caliber apples or large-diameter peaches find a place in premium markets or in special value-added packages, while intermediate categories can be targeted at large-scale retail outlets with excellent results in terms of rotation and liking.

With Futura grading machines, this segmentation is fully automatable, reducing human intervention and allowing streams to be differentiated in real time based on predefined or remotely updatable criteria. This allows fruit and vegetable companies to adapt sales strategies to their target markets, taking advantage of the system’s versatility without changing the line.

Unconventional fruits: the importance of flexibility in sizing chart and lines

With increasing global demand for tropical fruits and exotic varieties, such as avocados, dates, mangos, pomegranates, dragon fruit, or special citrus, the calibration becomes even more complex. Irregular shapes, variable textures and non-standard classification parameters require highly flexible and intelligent systems.

Caliber and weight: why is it important to distinguish them?

The size generally refers to the maximum diameter of the fruit, measured in millimeters. However, for some products, weight is a more significant parameter. This is the case with the
clementines and other small citrus fruits, where average weight is a key indicator for selection.
In modern grading plants, grading machines use advanced systems to grade fruit with very high precision, ensuring rigorous standards
For distribution in supermarkets and wholesale trade.

How do you measure fruit size?

Measuring fruit size is a crucial step in ensuring uniformity, quality, and compliance with the standards required by national and international markets. Each fruit is evaluated according to specific parameters such as weight, diameter, shape and color, which determine its classification in the calibration tables.

In Futura systems, measurement is not limited to the collection of isolated data, but is based on an integrated combination of optical instruments, multispectral sensors and artificial intelligence algorithms. The fruits are slid on trolleys designed to ensure gentle handling and precise singulation, avoiding bumps or overlapping.

While passing under the analysis section, the system acquires up to 22 images for each fruit from multiple sources (RGB, infrared, multispectral). The images are processed in real time by digital inspection software, which returns a complete and reliable evaluation of product characteristics.

The caliber can then be determined:

• By diameter, measuring with millimeter precision the widest point of the fruit
• By weight, thanks to weighing systems integrated into the line
• By volume, in cases where the shape of the fruit is irregular

All this information is processed with automatic calibration logic, which takes into account the tare weight of the media and the specific settings of the batch being processed.

Gauge measurement methods

The fruit and vegetable industry uses several techniques to measure fruit size. These methods are chosen according to the characteristics of the product, such as shape, weight, and commercial purpose.

LOGIKA grading machines

Logika is a highly customizable product that can be adapted to upstream or downstream line installations due to the modular production system we employ. In fact, it allows operation in all different production capacities, from the highest to the lowest. In this way a tailor-made suit can be “sewn” for each client’s specific needs.

Fruits can be selected according to weight, diameter and color parameters, which can be applied individually or combined for even more specific calibration. The machines can select not only standard fruits such as apples, peaches, apricots, or citrus, but also unusual or recently introduced fruits such as dates, pomegranates, avocados, mangos, onocados, potatoes, and dragon fruit.

The software of Logika grading machines is characterized by an extremely user-friendly approach, thanks to the simple and intuitive yet feature-rich interface.

more functions, greater precision, and fully digital management. With an advanced optical system and multi-capture imaging, it is able to analyze each fruit completely, quickly and reliably.

What does our software do?

It analyzes each fruit in real time according to:

• Image and form
• Weight and density
• Size and volume
• Color and surface

With a processing capacity of several fruits per second, depending on the type of grading machines used.

Main functions

Advanced image analysis

Using a multi-camera system, each fruit is photographed from different angles (up to 22 images per fruit), enabling accurate 3D reconstruction.

Color analysis

Our algorithm translates the entire color spectrum into an easy-to-manage parameter that is useful for evaluating ripening and planning processing. The system recognizes both average color and areas with specific hues.

High precision weighing system

Each lane has two load cells for greater precision. Tare control is dynamic and automatic, with built-in computer-monitorable alarms.

Fully digital control

All parameters are managed directly from the software on the computer. No manual adjustments, everything simple and centralized.

What does our system include?

Hardware

• Industrial computer
• IR and visible light cameras
• Long-lasting LED lighting
• Boards for weighing, electromagnetic activation, time control
• Complete wiring

Software

• Program for custom classification
• Management of calibrated batches
• Production statistics
• Optional: full manual control of the machine

Services included

• Installation directly on the machine
• Staff training in the use of the system
• Remote assistance
• Complete integration into a single electrical panel to reduce installation time

Lately Futura has some new features that make fruit calibration even more precise and gentle thanks to a more updated and modern version of the software

AI technology for even smarter classification

Our most advanced grading system integrates all the functions of its predecessor and adds one more powerful function: external fruit quality assessment based on artificial neural networks.

How does it work?

Our artificial intelligence technology is designed to adapt to the specific needs of each client. The system recognizes flaws, imperfections, and external fruit qualities by an algorithm that “learns” from the examples provided.

External quality assessment

• The client provides only a few examples of fruits with different qualities.
• The AI system analyzes these examples and automatically builds a customized selection model.
• No need for expensive upgrades or technical changes: the system adapts itself to the chosen criteria.

The benefits to the customer

• Total selection customization
• Continuous adaptability through self-learning algorithm
• Reduced upgrade costs
• Greater precision in detecting visible defects and imperfections
• This technology allows companies to work with more precise quality standards, delivering selected products to the market in a more efficient and intelligent way.

The app Futura Smart Grading also allows customers to monitor machines remotely through smartphones or tablets and ensures rapid remote intervention by our staff if necessary. Start your high-level calibration now, contact us.