Integrated Physical–Mechanical Characterization of Fruits for Enhancing Post-Harvest Quality and Handling Efficiency

Quality and mechanical resilience are crucial for reducing losses in fruit production and for supporting food chains. Indeed, integrating empirical data with rheological models bridges gaps in fruit processing equipment design. Therefore, the objective of this research is to analyze the relationship between the mechanical and physical properties of seven economi- cally important fruits—nectarine, kiwi, cherry, apple, peach, pear, and apricot—to assess their mechanical behavior and post-harvest...