Abstract

The 'Abate Fetel' pear is a dear example of a premium fruit cultivar that requires a consistently high quality level. This research focused on the effects of key variables of fruit industry decision-making, including agronomic options (harvest date), commercial value (fruit diameter) and marketing (time of commercial distribution). The analysis was conducted using a combination of instrumental measures, trained panel evaluations and consumer acceptance tests. Our results encourage planning consumer tests to support quality research.