45F-12 |
Marketing of banana (Musa spp.): Consumer preferences relating to fruit quality attributes |
F. C. A. U. Matsuura1, J. I. P. da Costa2, and M. I. S. FOLEGATTI1. (1) Laboratorio de Ciencia e Tecnologia de Alimentos, Embrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura, R. Embrapa, s/n, Caixa Postal 07, Cruz das Almas - BA, 44380-000, Brazil, (2) Departamento de Engenharia de Produção, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Campus Universitario, Florianopolis-SC, 88040-970, Brazil Brazil has a banana annual production of 6 million tons and a per capita annual consumption close to 35 Kg. The widespread acceptance of the banana fruit is due, mainly, to its sensorial aspects, nutritional value and convenience. The identification of the consumer needs and desires consists in a critical activity of the marketing. The objective of this work was to research the consumer preferences of a local market considering the fruit quality attributes of fresh mature banana. The methodology was a descriptive research based on a statistical method. The data were collected by questionnaire, carried through personal interviews with 400 people from Cruz das Almas town, Bahia State, Northeast region of Brazil. The quality attributes (variables) evaluated were appearance, color, texture, aroma, flavor and shelf life of banana fruits. The consumer preferences showed that an ideal mature banana should have characteristics such as bunch with ten to twelve fingers (fruits); fingers with medium or big size, medium diameter, angularity; absence of black spots in the peel; pulp with light or medium yellow color, firm texture, medium intensity aroma and flavor, medium sweet taste and shelf life of seven to ten days in room temperature. The consumer preferences could orientate the production, distribution and commercialization of banana fruits.
Session 45F, Fruit & Vegetable Products: Fruits (Fresh)
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