IF Indonesian tastes are anything to go by, there is substantial potential to grow the Australian pear export category into the future.
A session at the 2016 National Horticulture Convention last month covered retail and consumer research.
Of particular focus during that session was Project Blush, a research assignment looking at consumer taste preferences for pears in Indonesia, carried out by research organisation, Colmar Brunton.
It analysed the Deliza and Lanya pear varieties in the hope of understanding the preference for these two pears versus the traditional Packham pear.
The Deliza (ANP-0131) is a cross between Corella and Comice pears.
The Lanya (ANP-0118) is an early variety, red-blushed pear harvested around the end of January, or early February.
Both pears were bred by the Victorian Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources at the Horticulture Centre of Excellence in Tatura, with the support of Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL) and Horticulture Innovation Australia with levy funds from apple and pear growers.
Participants in the Indonesian trial were given samples of both soft and firm-eating pears.
The research delved into the impacts of texture, sweetness and crunch on consumer liking.
A sample of 150 consumers participated in Jakarta, made up of 77 per cent women and 23pc men, with each taking about 45 minutes to complete a short survey questionnaire at the beginning of the session.
Each consumer then received two trays, one for each pear variety. Each tray contained a firm and soft sample of fruit.
Directly prior to each evaluation, the pears were measured for firmness, sweetness and maturity.
What arose was that, for the Lanya variety, both soft and firm variations were appealing and rated above benchmarks.
The firm Deliza sample rated significantly higher than the soft sample yet both still rated better than the benchmarks.
In paired preferences versus Packham pears, both the Deliza and the Lanya were significantly preferred.
Research director for Colmar Brunton Dr Denise Hamblin, who delivered the results, said the Indonesian interest in pears and willingness to purchase on a frequent schedule was a great news story.
"There is a strong anticipated purchase frequency. Australian-grown is a key driver of purchase intent," Dr Hamblin said.
While taste was at the centre of the test, Dr Hamblin said growers and exporters couldn't ignore a pear's outer appearance.
"Consumers really buy first on colour," she said.
"So getting the colour right is a really good way of getting that targeting right."
The research found that the colouring of the Lanya variety was the most appealing to consumers with its pale green background and pink blush foreground.
With a healthy potential for exports to Indonesia, Dr Hamblin said more work will be required to drill down into further details of the project, such as what consumers are willing to pay for pears and the expected size of the market.
"It looks very positive and looks like there are lots of opportunities," she said.
Ashley Walmsley
Ashley Walmsley is the editor of ACM's only national, fresh produce magazine, Good Fruit & Vegetables, while also covering horticulture stories for the agricultural papers and websites. He also writes the weekly, The Ringer, column in the Qld Country Life.
Ashley Walmsley is the editor of ACM's only national, fresh produce magazine, Good Fruit & Vegetables, while also covering horticulture stories for the agricultural papers and websites. He also writes the weekly, The Ringer, column in the Qld Country Life.
