Abstract: The instant invention is drawn to efficient and nondestructive measurement of soluble solids in fruits having a rind or skin, utilizing: infrared radiation source means for providing a beam or near infrared radiation of sufficient intensity to penetrate the fruit, intensity measurement means for measuring the intensity of radiation exiting the fruit, correlating means for correlating the measurements of intensities of the exiting radiation: wherein the near infrared radiation source means and the intensity measurement means are positioned such that when a fruit is positioned within the device, the distance measured along the rind or skin of the fruit between (1) where the center of the beam intersects the rind/skin, and (2) a point on the rind/skin where the center of the field of detection intersects the rind/skin is at least about 8 cm.