Quality monitoring in cold-chain of leafy vegetables converging ICT.

This study was conducted to monitor real-time freshness of food materials during distribution. In order to monitor quality, temperature data during distribution process were collected in real time by using RFID sensor tag and wireless sensor network. The quality monitoring system contains quality prediction model and calculates and saves quality index in real time, inter-working with quality prediction algorithm according to transmission of environmental information through WSN/CDMA. Calculated quality information is shown to customers and managers within 2 seconds with information on production and distribution history when scanning 2D bar code or reading RFID tag by portable terminal. When applying real time quality monitoring system to actual field, during distribution in both constant temperature and fluctuated temperature, prediction was excellent within the 95% prediction interval (PI). Therefore, the on-line quality monitoring technology for leafy vegetables during distribution process could be applied effectively and reliably for the food quality management.