TASTE PANEL QUALITY EVALUATION OF 'HAYWARD' KIWIFRUIT OF DIFFERENT ORIGINS

In Portugal, the regions of Entre-Douro e Minho and Beira Litoral have exceptional conditions for the production of good quality kiwifruit. However, demand exceeds local supply resulting in importation of kiwifruit from Italy, Chile and New Zealand. Taste panels were run in December, May and June to study the preferences of Portuguese consumers for ‘Hayward’ kiwifruit. In December, a comparison was made between kiwifruit from Portugal and Italy, in May between kiwifruit from Portugal and Chile and in June between kiwifruit from Portugal, Chile and New Zealand. Attributes assessed by panellists were: appearance, texture, flavour, sweetness and acidity. The same samples were analyzed for: weight, equatorial and longitudinal diameter, firmness, soluble solids (as measured by refractometer) and titratable acidity. In May, panellists preferred Portuguese kiwifruit, but in December and June the preference was not so clear. In December, Portuguese kiwifruit were not at the eating ripe stage and in June they were at the end of their storage life (bad appearance but better flavour, sweetness and texture).