Four promising day-neutral varieties ranked
In August, consumers tasted and ranked four promising day-neutral strawberry varieties, giving the fresh market strawberry industry a better idea of what kind of fruit local shoppers want to buy. Read on for consumer feedback on Sweet Ann, Aroma, Seascape and Albion.
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The Taste Tests
In August, Ann Colonna, Sensory Program Manager at the Food Innovation Center in Portland, OR, led the day-neutral variety taste tests. These tests are part of a project by the Oregon Strawberry Commission & Northwest Berry Foundation. We've been trialing, evaluating, and taste testing promising day-neutral and June bearing fresh market varieties. Having sound information on different varieties will provide growers with more opportunities to choose varieties that fit their farm and market needs. It will also encourage buyers to market the varieties that consumers preferred at the tastings.
Test Locations: Locations: Food Innovation Center on August 10th and 16th, 2017, n=106 and New Seasons Markets (East Happy Valley) on August 25th, 2017, n=100 and (SE Seven Corners and SE Woodstock) on August 30th, n=100.
Day-neutral varieties tested: Sweet Ann, Seascape, Aroma, and Albion (as standard). The Sweet Ann was not included in the branded test at the FIC due to lack of availability.
In these tests, we saw lots of day to day, week to week variance in the fruit, which explains some of the variation in the results from one location to another.
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Day-neutral Strawberry Variety Sensory Testing Results
From Ann Colonna, Food Innovation Center
For the in-house ratings at the Food Innovation Center (FIC), Albion and Aroma were rated statistically more appealing and higher in Overall Liking, Quality and Purchase Intent than the Seascape and Sweet Ann varieties. At the New Seasons Market tests, the Aroma and Seascape were rated highest and most preferred overall.
For Overall Appearance Liking at the FIC test, there were no significant differences between the four varieties. At the New Seasons Market tests, Seascape and Albion were liked and rated significantly more appealing than the Sweet Anns.
At the FIC test, the Color of the Albion and Aroma varieties were rated highest in the attribute color liking, while at the New Seasons Market test, it was the Albion and Seascape that were closest to just about right.
The Glossiness of the Albion and Seascape were most preferred (only asked at FIC).
The Size of the Albion were most preferred at the FIC test, while the size of the Albion and Sweet Ann varieties were well liked at the New Seasons Market tests. The Aroma variety was rated as somewhat to much too small on average.
The Aroma of the Sweet Ann and Aroma varieties was liked significantly more than the other two varieties at the New Seasons Market tests and was rated highest, while the Albion was highest at the FIC test.
At the FIC test, the Aroma and Albion varieties were liked more than the other two varieties in the attribute Overall Liking and Flavor Liking. At the New Seasons Market tests, the Aroma and Seascape were liked more in these two important attributes.
At the FIC test, the Albion was rated closest to ideal in the attribute Sweetness. The Sweet Ann variety was rated as not sweet enough on average. The Seascape and Aroma varieties were the two that were rated closest to ideal sweetness at the New Seasons Market tests. The Sweet Ann, again, was rated as not sweet enough.
Albion and Aroma varieties were rated closest to ideal in Tartness liking at the FIC test, while the Aroma and Seascape were most ideal in the New Seasons Market tests.
The Seascape, Aroma and Albion varieties were all close to ideal in Juiciness. This attribute was asked at the FIC only.
The Firmness of the Aroma and Albion varieties were rated most ideal at the FIC tests, while the Albion and Sweet Ann varieties were rated best in this attribute at the New Seasons Market tests.
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At the FIC test, the Aroma and Albion varieties were rated better than the average strawberry. At the New Seasons Market tests, there were no significant differences between any of the strawberries tested. They were all rated between somewhat better than average and average.
The Aroma and Albion varieties were rated highest in Purchase Intent at the FIC test. This is the most important question in the sensory test. At the New Seasons Market tests, the Seascape variety was rated highest in Purchase Intent, though not significantly higher than the other varieties.
The Aroma and Albion were rated highest in Quality at the FIC and the New Seasons Market tests.
Roughly half of testers look for/notice specific varietals. About two thirds reported that they would pay more for specific varietals.
Of the 10 attributes listed (taste was not included, as it always ranks #1), Appearance, Color and Local continue to be the most important to consumers’ preferences for fresh strawberries.
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Oregon Strawberries on TV
As a special addition to the project, Oregon fresh market strawberries were featured on live television. KGW's "The Talk," highlighted the project and taste testing at the Food Innovation Center. During the segment, Ann acknowledged the Oregon Strawberry Commission and the Northwest Berry Foundation, and participants tasted fresh strawberries from Unger Farms.
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Get more feedback from the taste tests at the Northwest Berry Foundation's Fresh Market Strawberry Workshop (Nov. 1). Go here for more information and to register.
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