exploratory study
CONCLUSION
Consumers’ decision to purchase tropical fruits, both in fresh and processed forms, is mainly determined by their taste, familiarity and price. Besides, health considerations and
the attractiveness of tropical fruits cannot be neglected in consumers purchasing process. Perceptions about these latter attributes, however, are influenced by the flavour of the tropical fruits and derived products.
Interesting as the results might be, this research has some limitations. The main limitations are linked to the research methods used and more specifically, their qualitative nature. Therefore, findings are preliminary and can neither be extrapolated to the overall Belgian population, nor to populations in other European countries. The insights generated by this qualitative research will form the basis for developing hypotheses for further quantitative survey research with large and representative samples of tropical fruit consumers.
Acknowledgements
This exploratory research was performed within the European Sixth Framework Program and fits into the PAVUC project (Producing added value from under-utilised fruit crops with high commercial potential), under contract number FP6-2003-INCO-DEV-2- 015279. The financing of the work by the European Union for this research and more specifically by Chiquita fresh BVBA for the third study is gratefully acknowledged. More information about the project can be found on www.pavuc.soton.ac.uk.
Footnote
1 açaí (
Euterpe oleracea Mart.), avocado (Persea americana L.), baobab (Adansonia digitata L.), berrycactus (Myrtillocactus spp.), carambola (Averrhoa carambola L.),
cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale L.), cherimoya (Annona cherimola Mill.),
coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), dragon fruit (Hylocereus spp.), guava (Psidium guava L.),
kumquat (Citrus spp.), litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.), mango (Magnifera indica L.),
mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.), papaya (Carica papaya L.), passion fruit
(Passiflora spp.), persimmon (Diospyrus spp.), pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.),
rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.), tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.), tree tomato
(Cyphomandra betacea C. Martius ex Sendtner)
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