Which sweet cherry the consumer prefers?

Key words: COST Action FA1104, taste, shape, colour

From April 16th 2012 until April 15th 2016 COST Action FA1104 entitled “Sustainable production of high quality cherries for the European market" ran. During this project several meetings were organized to exchange information regarding the cultivation of cherries. The aim of this project is to achieve a more sustainable cherry cultivation and to promote cherries as a high quality fruit species.

Most of the attention went to the exchange of research results (e.g. improvement of the breeding techniques and variety testing, cultivation techniques (rootstocks and planting systems) and crop protection. However, there was also attention paid to the socio-economic aspects of cherry cultivation among others information about the consumption of sweet cherries. In the framework of this work package pcfruit has done a survey with the visitors at the “Dag van de kers” on July 10th 2016 in Borgloon (Belgium). The results of this survey are briefly discussed in this article.

As conclusion of this survey, we can say that the Belgian consumer prefer large, dark red to black, kidney shaped cherries. They also need to be firm, sweet and juicy and they have a medium long stem. Of the eight characteristics that were presented in this survey taste is by far the most important. Picking time and shape are not important for the Belgian consumers.

Publications

Fruitteeltnieuws 29(18): 14-15

Welke zoete kers verkiest de consument? Published: 23-09-2016

Documents

Welke zoete kers verkiest de consument? () Magazin article

Details

Activity type

Publication in industry journal/magazine

Activity work package

Performance of new fruit varieties

Activity number

PCFRUIT-WP2-A38

Activity contact

Vercammen Jef
pcfruit, Fruittuinweg 1, 3800 Sint-Truiden, Belgium
Tel.: +32 (0)11 69.70.81
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.pcfruit.be

Activity partner

PCFRUIT

Activity country

Belgium

Last edit

05-12-2016