Abstract: Based on overall analysis of apple shape, originally,the reference shape method was used in apple shape feature extraction. The six shape feature parameters are Radius index, Continuity index, Curvature index, Symmetry of radius index, Symmetry of continuity index and Symmetry of curvature index. The method of using 6 shape feature parameters was used to describe the fruit shape. The 6 shape feature parameters were put into artificial neural network to train and recognize. The results showed that the method worked well with high accuracy in fruit shape sorting.