Firmness and TSS at Retail Outlets

Apple fruit consumers enjoy the freshness, juiciness, and crunchy sounds during biting and taste while eating. Very limited awareness on quality parameters has been observed at the retail outlets and consumers end. The present study was conducted to find the consumer awareness level on quality aspects and perception on firmness and sugar levels of apples. 164 selected apple consumers given a structured questionnaire on apple quality parameters and evaluated for making recommendations on future needs of quality assurance at sales points. The results indicated that awareness is very high on nutritional benefits. However, customers are not much aware of crunchiness, sugar level identification and instruments available for measurement of these parameters. The authors propose two simple instruments with protocols recommended for retailers to display the sample testing for apples to assure the quality to the consumers before buying. This concept is not currently available in the apple sales markets. Initially this can be implemented by retail chains like Reliance, Spencer’s, More or any other store and later awareness can be created in retailers.