Explanation of BRIX Readings and Ratings.

 Food is more than colour and shape — it has an inside story.

That story is made of nutrients, minerals, plant compounds, dry matter, and structural qualities that vary enormously between different pieces of produce.  

NutriBalance* is committed to helping communities understand these differences in a simple, safe, science-based, non-political way. 

* Nutribalance Systems is the overall umbrella covering:

• Soil Heatlh
• Produce and Food Health

and

• Human Health

We use metrics to manage, plan and/or control all 3, connecting all directly in straight forward way.   

  The nutrients in fruits and vegetables naturally vary because of:  

• Soil quality  
• Weather And growing conditions  
• Farming methods  
• Storage time  
• Handling, Transport
• Variety/cultivar differences  
• Harvest timing   

This variation is recognised by food science bodies worldwide (FSANZ, WHO, USDA, FAO, etc.).
Because nutrient content varies so much, official nutrient reference values are based on population averages, not specific pieces of produce.  This means: two carrots from different farms can have very different nutritional characteristics. 

  Nutrient density refers to the concentration of nutrient-related properties inside a food.
These properties include:  

• Dry matter  
• Soluble solids  
• Cell structure  
• Protein-related scattering  
• Mineral-associated features  
• Water-to-solid ratio   

Foods with higher density often taste better, store longer, and have firmer texture — because they contain more solids and structure.  

Nutrient density is not about calories or size.

It is about what’s inside.  

 The Nutrient Density Index (NDI) is a simple number from 1 to 100 indicating certain internal characteristics of produce measured using safe near-infrared light at ~880 nm.  NDI does not directly measure vitamins or minerals.
It measures reflectance patterns that correlate with food quality and density.  You can think of NDI as:  “A quick snapshot of how solid, dense, and well-developed the produce is on the inside.”  It’s a practical comparison tool — not a medical device. Running a holiday sale or weekly special? Definitely promote it here to get customers excited about getting a sweet deal.

 NDI helps:  

✔ Consumers  Compare produce quickly and easily.  

✔ Families  Learn how food quality varies between shops and seasons.  ✔ Growers  Track improvements in soil, plant health, and harvest timing.  

✔ Schools  Teach kids how food works — and why quality matters.  ✔ Markets & Communities  Build trust and transparency. 

 ✔ Nutrition Education  Support better understanding of real-world variation.  

NDI is not a health claim — it is simply a measurement to help people see differences that are normally invisible.  it to yourself, let folks know.

   NutriMeter uses a brief, low-intensity NIR pulse to assess produce characteristics.

The reading appears immediately on the 0.49" OLED screen.  It is:  

• Non-destructive  
• Fast  
• Simple  
• Portable  
• Easy for anyone to use   

No apps or subscriptions are required for Nx-01. 

As there is a high correlation between BRIX (0-32) and NDI (0-100) readings, we can use the Dr. Carey Reams' Rating chart with confidence.

Developed over 80 years ago from research all around the USA, every produce item has its own grading or rating of "poor", "average", "good" or "Excellent". - see here for more info  at the back of this page here.  

And has been used as a Rating method or scale since then.

This Rating is a comparison tool, not a health rating.