Celia M Cantin1,2,3, Azucena Gracia3,4. 1. ARAID Foundation, Zaragoza, Spain. 2. Unidad de Hortofruticultura, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA), Zaragoza, Spain. 3. Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón - IA2 (CITA-Universidad de Zaragoza), Zaragoza, Spain. 4. Unidad de Economía Agroalimentaria y de los Recursos Naturales, Centro de Investigación y Tecnolo-gía Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA), Zaragoza, Spain.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Growing altitude might have an effect on the quality of fresh apple and therefore on the perception of sensory attributes and on acceptance by consumers. On the other hand, extrinsic information provided to the consumer might affect consumer acceptability and sensory perception of the fruit's main quality traits. The main objective of this work was to study the effect of the growing altitude on the physico-chemical attributes (soluble solid content (SSC), flesh firmness, fruit weight (g), and titratable acidity (TA)), consumer acceptability, and perception of the main sensory attributes (sweetness, acidity and texture) of two reference apple cultivars ('Golden D.' and 'Reineta') by using a panel of 195 consumers. A secondary objective was to study whether extrinsic information about cultivar and growing place have an effect on the consumer perception and acceptance of fresh apple. RESULTS: Significant effects on physico-chemical and sensory attributes were found for 'Golden D.' and 'Reineta' apple cultivars due to the growing altitude, and they were perceived by consumers. Moreover, extrinsic information about the cultivar and the growing site influenced consumers' sensory perceptions significantly. CONCLUSIONS: This work demonstrated that differences between apple fruit grown at different altitudes can be perceived by consumers. We demonstrated the importance of providing consumers with information about the cultivar and the growing place to increase their acceptance and support local produce.
BACKGROUND: Growing altitude might have an effect on the quality of fresh apple and therefore on the perception of sensory attributes and on acceptance by consumers. On the other hand, extrinsic information provided to the consumer might affect consumer acceptability and sensory perception of the fruit's main quality traits. The main objective of this work was to study the effect of the growing altitude on the physico-chemical attributes (soluble solid content (SSC), flesh firmness, fruit weight (g), and titratable acidity (TA)), consumer acceptability, and perception of the main sensory attributes (sweetness, acidity and texture) of two reference apple cultivars ('Golden D.' and 'Reineta') by using a panel of 195 consumers. A secondary objective was to study whether extrinsic information about cultivar and growing place have an effect on the consumer perception and acceptance of fresh apple. RESULTS: Significant effects on physico-chemical and sensory attributes were found for 'Golden D.' and 'Reineta' apple cultivars due to the growing altitude, and they were perceived by consumers. Moreover, extrinsic information about the cultivar and the growing site influenced consumers' sensory perceptions significantly. CONCLUSIONS: This work demonstrated that differences between apple fruit grown at different altitudes can be perceived by consumers. We demonstrated the importance of providing consumers with information about the cultivar and the growing place to increase their acceptance and support local produce.