QUEENSLAND CONSUMERS WANT THEIR APPLES, AUSTRALIAN, FRESH AND CRISPY
Published Tuesday, 30 October, 2007 at 12:50 PM
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
Consumers want their apples, Australia-grown, juicy and crunchy. And they also don’t want the apples to have spent too long in the fridge.
The conclusions form part of Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries research project focused on finding out why consumers choose certain produce over others.
“The research will help producers create foods which they know consumers want to eat and by doing so steer us towards healthier eating options,’’ Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said today.
“Initial research carried out on apples involved using various survey and sensory tests identifying seven positive factors influencing consumer decisions.
“Consumers definitely want apples which are consistently juicy and crunchy, have additional health attributes than other varieties and are Australian produced,” Mr Mulherin said.
The seven positive factors that attract consumers are:
Freshness,
Flavour,
Crispiness,
No pesticides,
Consistent quality,
Juiciness and
Added health attributes.
The factors that stop consumers from buying apples are:
No flavour,
Floury,
Cold stored for 1 year and,
Imported.
“By knowing what consumers want growers and food scientists are able to focus future breeds to include more of those qualities,’’ Mr Mulherin said.
“And for retailers it means knowing what attributes of their stock they should be marketing to consumers in a bid to encourage them to buy from their store.’’
DPI&F research scientist Stephanie Kirchhoff said the testing also identified attributes growers and business should watch out for.
“It’s good to be able to know what to do, but it’s also great to know what not to do and consumers are clear on this front.
“They don’t want fruit that’s floury, has been imported, or been sitting in cold storage for a year and would be more attracted to those that are grown without the use of pesticides,’’ Ms Kirchoff said.
“Research also showed growers and business need to get it right the first time because consumers were adamant that they won’t go back for a second try if they weren’t happy the first time around,” Ms Kirchhoff said.
While freshness was a key attribute identified desired by consumers, the reality is that apples, like most fruits, are seasonal.
Apples are available year-round, due to controlled atmosphere storage, but it also helps to know which apples are in season.
Consumer research is underway on various other foods with results likely to provide new avenues of produce and marketing for growers and businesses and help to keep consumers making healthier eating choices.
The research was prepared at the Innovative Food Technology Centre at Hamilton.
Media:
Minister’s office 32396530
DPI&F Jacinda Chisholm 3896 9693
Photo of Minister eating apple available on request please call 3239 3000.
The conclusions form part of Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries research project focused on finding out why consumers choose certain produce over others.
“The research will help producers create foods which they know consumers want to eat and by doing so steer us towards healthier eating options,’’ Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said today.
“Initial research carried out on apples involved using various survey and sensory tests identifying seven positive factors influencing consumer decisions.
“Consumers definitely want apples which are consistently juicy and crunchy, have additional health attributes than other varieties and are Australian produced,” Mr Mulherin said.
The seven positive factors that attract consumers are:
Freshness,
Flavour,
Crispiness,
No pesticides,
Consistent quality,
Juiciness and
Added health attributes.
The factors that stop consumers from buying apples are:
No flavour,
Floury,
Cold stored for 1 year and,
Imported.
“By knowing what consumers want growers and food scientists are able to focus future breeds to include more of those qualities,’’ Mr Mulherin said.
“And for retailers it means knowing what attributes of their stock they should be marketing to consumers in a bid to encourage them to buy from their store.’’
DPI&F research scientist Stephanie Kirchhoff said the testing also identified attributes growers and business should watch out for.
“It’s good to be able to know what to do, but it’s also great to know what not to do and consumers are clear on this front.
“They don’t want fruit that’s floury, has been imported, or been sitting in cold storage for a year and would be more attracted to those that are grown without the use of pesticides,’’ Ms Kirchoff said.
“Research also showed growers and business need to get it right the first time because consumers were adamant that they won’t go back for a second try if they weren’t happy the first time around,” Ms Kirchhoff said.
While freshness was a key attribute identified desired by consumers, the reality is that apples, like most fruits, are seasonal.
Apples are available year-round, due to controlled atmosphere storage, but it also helps to know which apples are in season.
Consumer research is underway on various other foods with results likely to provide new avenues of produce and marketing for growers and businesses and help to keep consumers making healthier eating choices.
The research was prepared at the Innovative Food Technology Centre at Hamilton.
Media:
Minister’s office 32396530
DPI&F Jacinda Chisholm 3896 9693
Photo of Minister eating apple available on request please call 3239 3000.