Odor-based produce identification system

A computing device configured for a checkout system in a store, the computing device comprising:

• communications interface circuitry configured to communicate data with one or more remotely located devices via a communication network;
• first and second sensors disposed on the computing device at different positions relative to an underlying ground surface, wherein each of the first and second sensors is configured to electronically sense one or more chemical compounds that contribute to an odor being emitted by a produce item;
• and
• processing circuitry operatively connected to the communications interface circuitry and configured to:
• generate an odor profile for the produce item being purchased by a shopper, wherein the odor profile comprises information representing the one or more electronically-sensed chemical compounds that contribute to the odor being emitted by the produce item, and wherein to generate the odor profile, the processing circuitry is configured to:
• selectively activate one of the first and second sensors to electronically sense the one or more chemical compounds based on a position of the produce item above the underlying ground surface, wherein the first sensor is activated when the produce item is at a first position above the underlying ground surface and wherein the second sensor is activated when the produce item is at a second position above the underlying ground surface, and wherein the second position is closer to the underlying ground surface than the first position;
• and
• electronically sense the one or more chemical compounds that contribute to the odor being emitted by the produce item using the selectively activated one of the first and second sensors;
• determine a freshness date for the produce item based on the odor profile;
• generate a message comprising the freshness date;
• and
• send the message to a device associated with the shopper indicating the freshness date for the produce item.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by processing circuitry of a computing device associated with a store, configures the computing device to:

• generate an odor profile for a produce item being purchased by a shopper, wherein the odor profile comprises information representing one or more electronically-sensed chemical compounds that contribute to an odor being emitted by the produce item, and wherein to generate the odor profile, the processing circuitry configures the computing device to:
• selectively activate one of a first sensor and a second sensor to electronically sense the one or more chemical compounds based on a position of the produce item above an underlying ground surface, wherein the first sensor is activated when the produce item is at a first position above the underlying ground surface and wherein the second sensor is activated when the produce item is at a second position above the underlying ground surface, and wherein the second position is closer to the underlying ground surface than the first position;
• and
• electronically sense the one or more chemical compounds that contribute to the odor being emitted by the produce item using the selectively activated one of the first and second sensors;
• determine a freshness date for the produce item based on the odor profile;
• generate a message comprising the freshness date;
• and
• send the message to a device associated with the shopper indicating the freshness date for the produce item.