Tesco has begun testing in-store avocado scanners that allow shoppers to check the ripeness of the fruit before buying, in an effort to help customers plan usage and cut food waste.

The technology, known as the One Third Avocado Scanner, will be installed in five UK stores from this week, the Standard reported.

It uses a small X-ray to scan the fruit, providing one of two ripeness readings: immediately ready for smashing or better suited for slicing in salads.

Lisa Lawrence, Tesco’s avocado buyer told the publication: “The scanner will enable shoppers to choose the avocado that is right for them and which therefore can help them plan their usage and desired shelf life, thereby cutting down on waste.

“Smashed avocado on sourdough continues to be one of the trendiest snacks at the moment, garnering millions of views on social media sites for recipe ideas, so we think, for that reason, the scanner will be really popular with shoppers.”

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The trial will run in the following stores: Cheshunt Extra in Hertfordshire; Colchester Superstore in Essex; Stratford-upon-Avon Superstore in Warwickshire; Wokingham Superstore in Berkshire; and Salisbury Extra in Wiltshire.

The supermarket giant said avocados are at an all-time high in popularity, selling nearly 15 million more units in the last year compared with the previous 52 weeks.

The initiative was developed in collaboration with Westfalia Fruit, Tesco’s global avocado supplier based in Spalding, Lincolnshire.

Emma Howes, Westfalia Fruit’s commercial manager, highlighted other sustainability initiatives by the company: “Just one of many initiatives we’ve worked on over the past year… trialling lasered avocados which removes the plastic label from Tesco’s loose avocado lines, and rolling out cardboard and paper packaging across all Tesco’s avocado pre-packed lines.”

She added that these moves have helped save “20 million pieces of plastic a year.”