Contact: Michael W. Neff
[email protected]
703-836-4606
American Society for Horticultural Science
Analysis of fresh strawberries reveals consumer preferences
Sensory, chemical analysis links harvest dates, sweetness to consumer favorites
WINTER HAVEN, FL—Fresh strawberries. Just the
mention of this iconic spring and early summer fruit can elicit
mouthwatering memories of shortcake, fruity drinks and sweet desserts.
Researchers interested in learning more about this evocative fruit have
determined that "sensory quality" of strawberries, a strong influence
on consumer preferences, is the result of a complex balance of
sweetness, aroma, texture, and appearance.
The goals of a
recent study by a research team from the University of Florida's Gulf
Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma, Florida and the USDA
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Winter Haven, were to reveal
factors affecting the "eating quality" of promising strawberry
selections in the University of Florida breeding program, as well as
the impact of harvest date on the fruits' chemical and sensory
characteristics.
According to lead author Anne Plotto of the
USDA-ARS, the researchers evaluated five selections and one cultivar of
the University of Florida breeding program as well as two new cultivars
from Australia ('Rubygem' and 'Sugarbaby').
The sensory study
took place at the University of Florida's Gulf Coast Research and
Education Center during 2006 and 2007. Participants were employees
from, and visitors to, the center. In 2006, 50 and 51 panelists
participated in the February and March panels, respectively, with 62%
to 63% female panelists. In 2007, 60 to 66 panelists (36% to 52% female
panelists) participated in the taste panels. Panelist ages ranged from
younger than 26 to older than 65 years old, with the majority of
panelists between 36 and 55 years old.
The sensory evaluation
showed that tasters determined a high variation among Florida
strawberries in terms of flavor, sweetness, and tartness preferences.
'Festival', the main strawberry cultivar grown in Florida, had low
ratings for flavor and sweetness in January and March. Selection 'FL
00-51' (now named 'Florida Elyana') and 'Rubygem' had relatively high
and consistent ratings for flavor and sweetness compared with the other
selections.
Plotto summarized the results, stating; "This
study shows that aroma volatiles and sugar levels must be balanced to
ensure a flavor appealing to consumers. Although germplasm strongly
influenced volatile composition and perceived flavor, harvest date and
season were also found to be an important factor influencing strawberry
composition. Genotypes with low flavor ratings were most often judged
as "not sweet enough" by the panelists, thus linking flavor to
sweetness preference".
###
The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. electronic journal web site: http://journal.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/133/6/859
Founded
in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the
largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural
research, education, and application. More information at ashs.org