UNDERSTANDING CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE OF PEACH, NECTARINE AND PLUM CULTIVARS

   ‘In-store’ consumer acceptance tests, as part of a four-step program to develop a minimum quality index, were performed to determine the relationship between ripe soluble solids concentration (RSSC) and/or ripe titratable acidity (RTA), and consumer acceptance of ‘Elegant Lady’ peach, ‘Spring Bright’ nectarine, and ‘Blackamber’ plum.
For these peach and nectarine cultivars, consumer acceptance was significantly related to RSSC. For ‘Blackamber’, consumer acceptance was significantly related to RSSC and RTA. The results from our “in-store” consumer tests and our previous orchard surveys demonstrated that these RSSC levels could be exceeded by these cultivars if good production practices are used.