2018 ASHS Annual Conference

Fruit quality characteristics and consumer acceptability can go hand in hand. Few studies in peaches have shown how both are associated or interrelated. To better characterize these associations, this study focused on evaluating 15 fresh peach cultivars that ripen from late-May to early-August in Georgia for quality characteristics and consumer acceptability. The overarching aim was to understand the quality characteristics that drive consumer likes and dislikes in the current peach varieties available in the market. For quality measurements, soluble solids content or SSC, titratable acidity (TTA) and firmness were measured. For consumer acceptability, eighty-nine peach consumers (31 male, 58 female) evaluated 15 peach varieties for their liking of appearance, aroma, overall flavor, sweetness, texture, sourness, as along with the overall liking on a 9-point hedonic scale (1 – dislike extremely; 9 – like extremely). The consumers evaluated the appearance and aroma of the whole fruit, while rest of the attributes (overall flavor, sweetness, texture, sourness and overall liking) were done on sliced fruit. Results indicated that ‘O’Henry’ and ‘Blazeprince’ followed by ‘August Lady’ were liked the most for appearance and aroma of whole fruits. ‘O’Henry’, followed by ‘Sierra Rich’ were rated highest overall for liking, flavor, sweetness and texture. In general, an SSC/TTA ratio of 15-18 was acceptable to the consumers. ‘O’Henry’ and ‘Sierra Rich’ had a ratio of 15.0 and 16.4, respectively. All varieties’ titratable acidity ranged from 0.5 to 0.7. ‘Spring Prince’, which was the least liked sample had the highest firmness (3.2 kgf). The results of this study indicate that relationships among consumers’ liking and quality characteristics can provide growers and researchers candidates of major drivers of consumption and targets for future improvement.