Spring Break
Fruits of Innovation Center's labor
OSU develops laser fruit labeling system to replace current practices for produce
Katy Weaver
Issue date: 2/6/08 Section: News
Oregon State is on a race to stop stickers. Not the ones found on bumpers - the pesky ones that get in the way as you bite into a piece of fruit.
The OSU Food Innovation Center in Portland is currently working to develop a new laser technology that permanently tattoos produce, eliminating the need for costly stickers that are a hassle at all stages in the manufacturing process.
"We are looking to use this method to replace the current practices," said Qingyue Ling, a senior development engineer at the FIC and assistant professor of senior research at OSU.
"Most fresh foods have a sticker on them that puts glue on the surface of the food. Sometimes it is irritating and difficult to peel off. The laser allows you not to use this. It is very fast, accurate, and there is no direct contact so there are no possibilities for contamination."
Grocery stores would find this technology particularly useful
"Produce stickers stick to everything," said an employee at a local grocery store.
"They fall off onto the tables, and they are really hard to keep clean. I'm sure [the technology] would make things much less of a hassle."
According to Ling, the laser is also advantageous because it is easy to program.
Unlike stickers, which must be printed, the laser technology is flexible. Almost anything can be tattooed onto the fruit - words, numbers or even graphics. The flexibility of the technology would allow it to be used for several different commercial functions.
"One thing you can do is put product information on [produce]," Ling said.
"On the stickers there is a number where at the check-out you punch it in to get price information."
"Another use is branding. If the fruit is from a particular region, you can brand it, saying for example it is an Oregon strawberry," Ling said.
"Similarly you can put manufacturing information on the fruit as well. Finally you can add a special saying for special occasions, such a banana that says 'Happy Mother's Day.' This adds special value that people are willing to pay for."
The OSU Food Innovation Center in Portland is currently working to develop a new laser technology that permanently tattoos produce, eliminating the need for costly stickers that are a hassle at all stages in the manufacturing process.
"We are looking to use this method to replace the current practices," said Qingyue Ling, a senior development engineer at the FIC and assistant professor of senior research at OSU.
"Most fresh foods have a sticker on them that puts glue on the surface of the food. Sometimes it is irritating and difficult to peel off. The laser allows you not to use this. It is very fast, accurate, and there is no direct contact so there are no possibilities for contamination."
Grocery stores would find this technology particularly useful
"Produce stickers stick to everything," said an employee at a local grocery store.
"They fall off onto the tables, and they are really hard to keep clean. I'm sure [the technology] would make things much less of a hassle."
According to Ling, the laser is also advantageous because it is easy to program.
Unlike stickers, which must be printed, the laser technology is flexible. Almost anything can be tattooed onto the fruit - words, numbers or even graphics. The flexibility of the technology would allow it to be used for several different commercial functions.
"One thing you can do is put product information on [produce]," Ling said.
"On the stickers there is a number where at the check-out you punch it in to get price information."
"Another use is branding. If the fruit is from a particular region, you can brand it, saying for example it is an Oregon strawberry," Ling said.
"Similarly you can put manufacturing information on the fruit as well. Finally you can add a special saying for special occasions, such a banana that says 'Happy Mother's Day.' This adds special value that people are willing to pay for."
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