Consumer expectations of apple quality

摘要

Everyone has a favorite apple variety but what makes it so? How do Washington State University's new apple varieties WA 2 and WA 38 compare with each other, and with existing commercial varieties? Consumers and producers may not always agree when asked what characteristics they desire in a new variety. Here, we will focus on eating quality preferences of consumers rather than typical grower interests of return on investment influenced by yield, packout, market demand, and price. Growers also realizethat each of these factors is influenced either directly or indirectly by fruit quality To please consumers, new varieties must meet high standards for both texture and flavor. Texture includes firmness, crispness, and juiciness (negatives being soft, chewy, dry, and mealy). Flavor includes sweetness, tartness, aroma, and other unique tastes (negatives being flavorless, not sweet enough, too sour, and bland).