Fresh‐cut Annurca Apples: Acceptability Study and Shelf‐life Determination

To establish the likelihood of purchase and acceptability level of new fresh‐cut apples, the responses of two categories of consumers, children and adults, were evaluated. The effect of storage time on acceptability was investigated and the shelf life of fresh‐cut apples was determined by using a Weibull hazard model. The samples were distributed at different storage time (from second to fifth day) at the Science Museum of Naples as part of an educational program for children to evaluate the likelihood of buying and the acceptability level of the product. The data were collected over 5 weeks, and the test was performed in 2,421 children and 224 adults. The product was distributed at the University of Naples at different storage time (time 0 to 10 days) to perform the Weibull test using 63 consumers. The adults and children appreciated the product, and the adults were generally willing to buy it. The Weibull analysis proved an appropriate method to evaluate product shelf life, which was estimated at 7.5 days at 4C. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS This study contributes to enhance the competitiveness of a traditional food as Protected Geographical Indication Annurca apples. In fact, an attractive way to improve the consumption of this variety of apple is to market it as a ready‐to‐eat product. Also, the research allows for a better understanding of the children's acceptability level of new fresh‐cut apples in order to improve the intake of apples among primary schoolchildren. In fact, an interesting way to increase the children's consumption of fruit is to distribute it at school level and also to increase the convenience for children. Finally, the fact that the product was distributed to the Science Museum of Naples can be considered as a premarket test for a new product launch.