Create README.md

README.md

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+---
+language:
+- en
+task_categories:
+- image-classification
+tags:
+- food
+- avocado
+---
+This dataset is a huggingface upload for https://data.mendeley.com/datasets/3xd9n945v8/1
+
+Description from their website accessed on 2nd July 2025
+This dataset consists of 14,710 labeled photographs of Hass avocados (Persea Americana Mill. cv Hass), resized to 800 x 800 pixels and saved in the .jpg format, designed to facilitate the development of deep learning models for predicting ripening stages and estimating shelf-life.
+
+A total of 478 Hass avocados were acquired three days post-harvest and categorized into three storage groups: T10 at 10 ºC with 85% relative humidity (RH); T20 at 20 ºC with 85% RH; and Tamb under ambient conditions.
+
+The ripening process of these avocados was documented through daily photographs (2 of each sample of opposite sides), each linked to a detailed Ripening Index with five stages: 
+1 - Underripe;
+2 - Breaking;
+3 - Ripe (First Stage);
+4 - Ripe (Second Stage);
+5 - Overripe.
+
+The fourth stage marked the end of the avocados' shelf-life, with any sample classified as stage 5 considered beyond its prime. Time stamps on each photograph enable the tracking of the duration from any photograph, to the point each avocado reached the end of its shelf-life.
+
+Additionally, an Excel spreadsheet accompanies the dataset, listing all photograph filenames, their corresponding sample number, storage group, classification according to the 5-stage Ripening Index, the day the photograph was taken relative to the start of the experiment, and the side of the fruit photographed (a or b).
+
+Steps to reproduce
+A total of 478 avocados (Persea Americana Mill. cv Hass)  were stored under three distinct storage conditions: 10ºC with 85% relative humidity (RH); 20ºC with 85% RH; and ambient temperature.
+
+To monitor the ripening process throughout their shelf life, each sample was documented by taking two photographs daily (of opposite sides), using a HAVOX-HPB-40D Photo Studio Lightbox measuring 42 x 42 x 42 cm. This setup featured a matte white background, illuminated by two LED ramps providing a luminous flux of 12,000 lm ± 200 lm and a color temperature of 5500 K. A light diffuser cloth further refined the lighting conditions. Photographs were captured with a Canon EOS 60D DSLR camera, equipped with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II lens, positioned atop the studio box. Camera settings were standardized at ISO 100, aperture at f/8.0, and shutter speed at 1/20 s.
+
+The photographs were analyzed and categorized using a 5-stage Ripening Index, intended to classify each avocado on a scale from 1 to 5, reflecting distinct stages in the ripening process, identified by a series of common characteristics:
+
+1. Unripe - Exhibiting a yellowish-green color and a very firm texture, these avocados may display signs of sun damage or other pre-harvest markings.
+
+2. Breaking - Beginning to ripen, the skin darkens to a greyish olive green with brown hues. While still firm, the avocado yields slightly under pressure.
+
+3. Ripe (First Phase) - Marked by the emergence of purple spots on the skin, the texture softens, indicating readiness for slicing while resisting mashing.
+
+4. Ripe (Second Phase) - Considered the peak of shelf-life, the skin turns a uniform purple, the flesh is soft to the touch, and the stem appears dry and light brown. There are no significant signs of decay.
+
+5. Overripe - The avocados show clear senescence signs, including mold spots on the skin and stem, and separation between the exocarp and mesocarp, indicating they are past their prime.
+
+Stage four is deemed the end of the avocado's optimal shelf-life, while stage five avocados are considered beyond consumable quality. This Ripening Index provides a detailed framework for understanding the nuanced stages of avocado ripening, crucial for both shelf-life estimation and optimizing consumption timing.
+
+Citation:
+Xavier, Pedro; Rodrigues, Pedro; L. M. Silva, Cristina (2024), “'Hass' Avocado Ripening Photographic Dataset”, Mendeley Data, V1, doi: 10.17632/3xd9n945v8.1