COMMON GROUND
- Commercially distributed fresh fruits and vegetables are not
meeting expectations of consumers. - Poor quality of fruits and vegetables is a complex problem and
cannot be attributed to a single factor. - A limiting factor in quality performance during marketing and
distribution is the genetic potential of the harvested cultivar.
DIVERGENCE
- The focal point for integrating research to improve quality of
fresh fruits and vegetables. - The relative importance of management decisions and genetic
potential in quality of fresh fruits and vegetables as delivered to
the consumer. - The ability of conventional or molecular approaches to increase
the economic value of fruit and vegetable crops.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
- A conceptual framework to integrate research on quality of fresh
fruits and vegetables. - Studies linking preharvest factors to postharvest quality of fresh
fruits and vegetables. - Quantitative models that link economic value to consumer prefer-
ence and to cultivar selection.