Shenzhen has taken the lead in launching a fruit quality grading pilot program, establishing a "1+3" standard system that covers safety, appearance, taste, and nutrition. Fruits are now classified into three "Shenzhen Standard" grades: A+, A, and B—making quality measurable, assessable, and visible to consumers. For growers and packers, this means one thing: precision grading is no longer optional—it's the key to accessing premium markets.
Shenzhen's Quality Grading: A New Standard for the Industry
Recently, Shenzhen was approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as a pilot city for fruit quality grading. The city has constructed a "1+3" agricultural product quality grading standard system that comprehensively evaluates fruits across safety, appearance, taste, and nutrition. Under this framework, fruits are divided into three distinct "Shenzhen Standard" levels—A+, A, and B—allowing quality to be quantified, assessed, and perceived by consumers.
This innovative initiative does more than improve market transparency. It provides scientific standards for the entire industry chain, from growers to distributors to retailers. For fruit packers, the message is clear: meeting these standards starts at the packing line.
How Fstsort Helps Packers Meet the "Shenzhen Standard"
Fstsort's fruit grading equipment is designed to help packers achieve the precision that the Shenzhen Standard demands. By combining multiple parameters—weight, size, color, and surface defects—the equipment delivers intelligent grading that ensures every fruit meets its designated grade.
The system supports a wide range of fruits, including apples, blueberries, pears, and more, and is fully compatible with Shenzhen's grading framework. But what makes it truly valuable is how each fruit type is handled with its unique characteristics in mind.
Blueberries: Gentle Grading That Preserves the Bloom
Blueberries are among the most delicate fruits to grade. Their thin skin and natural waxy "bloom"—a key indicator of freshness for premium buyers—can be easily damaged by rough handling. For blueberry packers, the challenge is simple: sort them accurately without destroying the very quality that makes them valuable.
This is where Fstsort's blueberry grading machines make the difference. Two configurations are available—Drum Sizers for farms and small packing houses, and Belt Sorters for medium to large-scale operations.
What they share:
Shared Advantages | What It Means for Your Blueberries |
|---|---|
Bloom protection | Soft materials at every contact point preserve the natural waxy bloom—the freshness signal that premium buyers look for |
Gentle handling | Low-drop design and soft brushes prevent bruising and damage at every stage |
Adjustable grading | Sorting speed and grade sizes can be adjusted to match different market requirements |
Blower separation | Built-in blower separates stacked berries so each one is graded individually |
Food-grade materials | All contact surfaces are hygienic and safe for fresh produce |
With Fstsort's blueberry graders, fruit that would have been downgraded or rejected now meets A+ and A standards, opening doors to premium retail channels. The result: blueberries that leave the line with their bloom intact, their shelf life extended, and their market value protected.
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Apples: Precision Weight Grading for Export Markets
Apples are the gold standard for testing equipment gentleness. They bruise so easily that if a machine handles apples well, it handles any fruit well. For apple packers supplying supermarkets or export markets, the equation is straightforward: consistent weight grading equals consistent quality—and consistent quality equals premium pricing.
Fstsort's apple weight sorting machine is built with what we call "Apple-Standard Care" —a set of protective features that prevent damage at every stage:
Advantages | What It Means for Your Apples |
|---|---|
Zero physical contact during measurement | Suspended weighing eliminates rolling and friction—no surface damage, no internal bruising |
Water flume feeding (optional) | Apples float into the system—water acts as a natural cushion, eliminating bruising from dry dumping |
Soft-touch brushes (optional) | Ultra-soft, food-grade bristles polish without micro-scratching |
Low-drop discharge | Minimal fall height with soft landing surfaces—no impact damage |
Export-grade accuracy | ±2g precision ensures every apple meets the tight weight specifications of international buyers |
Programmable profiles | Save settings for Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, or any variety—switch in seconds |
The result: minimized post-sorting browning—a common problem with traditional mechanical graders—and apples that are ready for premium export markets.
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Pears: Gentle Weight Sorting for Irregular Shapes
Pears present a unique grading challenge. Unlike apples, they aren't uniformly round—some are narrow at the stem and wide at the base. Diameter-based graders can be thrown off by these irregular shapes, leading to inconsistent grades.
Fstsort's electronic weight sorters handle pears by weight, not by size or shape—so every pear goes to the right grade, regardless of its form. Two configurations are available: Rotary Weight Sorters for smaller operations, and Linear Weight Sorters for higher-volume packing lines.
What they share:
Shared Advantages | What It Means for Your Pears |
|---|---|
Individual fruit weighing | Shape doesn't matter—only weight determines the grade |
±2g accuracy | Consistent grading—every pear meets buyer specifications, no rejected shipments |
Soft weighing cups | No rolling, no friction, no bruising during measurement |
Low-drop discharge | Minimal fall height with soft landing surfaces—no impact damage |
Multiple weight grades | 7–12 grades available—serve different markets from one harvest |
Smart switching | PLC touch screen saves profiles for different varieties—switch in seconds |
This is especially valuable for pear growers. In the past, high-quality pears often went unrecognized due to a lack of standardized grading—making it difficult to command premium prices. With Fstsort's sorting technology, A+ grade pears can be accurately screened and directed to high-end markets, significantly improving their added value.
Explore Fstsort's weight sorting solutions →
Building a Smarter Fruit Supply Chain
For fruit packers, the message is clear: the future of the fruit industry is precision grading. And precision grading starts with the right equipment. Fstsort's solutions are designed to help packers meet the Shenzhen Standard—and beyond.
Shenzhen plans to expand the grading program to 10 fruit categories—including kiwifruit, honeydew melon, mango, lychee, longan, and more—with the goal of establishing a National Agricultural Product Quality Grading Evaluation Center by 2025. As intelligent sorting technology becomes more widespread, the fruit market will grow more transparent, producers will capture higher value, and consumers will enjoy better quality produce. For Fstsort, this means a broader market and greater responsibility. In the years ahead, Fstsort will continue to refine its sorting technology and deliver intelligent grading solutions for even more fruit categories—helping packers everywhere meet the standards of tomorrow's market.