Grading peanuts by thermal vision

A method and system for grading peanut pods using thermal imaging, the method including the steps of: (a) heating or cooling the peanut pods for a predetermined heating time such that the peanut pods have a higher or lower temperature than an ambient temperature; (b) allowing the peanut pods to cool or warm up in the ambient temperature for a predetermined cooling or warming time: (c) capturing a thermal image of the peanut pods after the predetermined cooling or warming time has lapsed; and (d) determining occupancy level of each of the peanut pods, based on the thermal image.