Abstract: A circuit for detecting the color of a fruit on a conveyor by measuring the light reflected from the surface of the fruit at a viewing station and for providing an appropriate discharge signal so that the fruit will be discharged to a particular discharge location at a position spaced downstream from the viewing station. The circuit includes .[.means .]. .Iadd.a light collecting device and filters .Iaddend.for separately measuring the amount of light reflected within two distinct bands of wavelengths of light, continuously computing the ratio of the same to derive an analog ratio signal, and comparing the ratio signal with a plurality of predetermined ratio signals in order to obtain said appropriate discharge signal. A memory circuit is included so that discharge signals for a plurality of fruit can be stored for an indeterminate period of time before any one of such fruit is directed to its discharge location.