Acceptance, and a clear intent to purchase, both increased when consumers understood that anthocyanins are the pigment responsible for the colour of strawberries, that darker strawberries have a higher anthocyanin content, and that there are potential health benefits associated with the consumption of anthocyanins.
The recently concluded trial was conducted on 267 participants who were selected based on relevant criteria. They were all regular strawberry consumers, and purchasers (when in season, were the main household shopper and were residing in Queensland while the trial was being conducted.
Participants were asked to fill out an online questionnaire, which gathered demographic information, and quizzed them on different purchase profiles and their purchasing intent. They were also asked to rate the strawberries on the hedonistic scale (out of 9).
The question of information when purchasing new ‘superfruits’ is increasingly important as more are being developed and released to the public for human trials. The Queen Garnet plum has just been released into Woolworths supermarkets in Australia with no additional information on the health benefits of anthocyanins. “We wanted to put signs out, but Woolworths said no,” Rowan Berecry, of Good Rich Fruit Co told Fresh Plaza. The project to develop the 'dark strawberry' was led by Dr Kent Fanning, and Principal Horticulturalist Dr Mark Herrington.
For more information
Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Website: www.daff.qld.gov.au
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QldAgriculture