İlknur ESKİMEZ, Mevlüt GÜL, Dursun ÖZGÜR

Evaluation of consumers' preferences on apple varieties: A case of Antalya province

In this study, it was aimed to determine the preferences for apple varieties and apple consumption of the households living in the city center of Antalya. In this regard, we examined consumers' decision to buy apples, purchasing frequency, supply channel preference, consumption level, attitudes to chemical drug residues. Cross-sectional data were collected from 300 households in February 2017 by face-to-face interviews. Consumers were classified as low, medium-low, medium-high and high-income groups according to their income, and according to these groups, other variables were interpreted by cross-tabulation. Consumers' opinions and behaviours towards food were scored by a five-point Likert scale. Consumers perceived criteria as price, quality, appearance, diversity, taste, organic as important in apple purchases. Consumers' choice of apples differed in parallel with their income level. As income increased, consumers were also more likely to know about apple varieties. We observed that consumers are generally aware of the traditional varieties (Golden delicious, Starking delicious, Granny Smith, Amasya) and buy these varieties. When the reasons for choosing apple varieties were examined the taste of Golden and Starking varieties; crisp and hardness of Granny Smith and Amasya variety were detected as main criteria. The most important criteria in apple purchases were factors such as price, appearance, quality, taste and flavour at the forefront, and it was determined that the varieties came after these factors. The most preferred channel for apple purchases was the street market. The most known and most consumed apple varieties were classic varieties (Starking delicious, Golden delicious, Granny Smith and Amasya). Developments in the production front, which can convince the consumer, especially for reliable food (such as organic, good agricultural production), may increase the consumption of apples.

Keywords:

apple, variety consumption, preference, Antalya,

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