[Duurzaamlijst] Organic Update Newsletter - February 2001

["Jelle Schottelndreier" <jellesonja@wanadoo.nl>]

> Organic Update Newsletter - February 2001
> The monthly e-zine from www.organic-research.com
> Contents
> 1. Are organic apples tastier and healthier?
> 2. Phenolics contents in organic strawberries
> 3. Organic kiwifruits have better storage potential
> 4. Nutritive value of organic carrots and cabbages
> 5. News
>
>
> 1. Are organic apples tastier and healthier?
>
> Claims and counterclaims have been made regarding the relative quality of
> organic versus conventional fruit. A recent Swiss study has shown that
> organic apples can have excellent quality.
>
> The researchers harvested Golden Delicious fruits from five pairs of
> organic/integrated farms in September 1997. The orchards within the pairs
> were less than 1 km from each other and were similar in microclimate, soil
> conditions and planting system. Maximum distance between the pairs was 180
> km.
>
> To measure inner fruit quality, the following parameters were investigated
> at the beginning and at the end of cold storage at 2°C for 40-43 days and
> 156-159 days: (i) standard parameters (firmness, sugar, malic acid, mineral
> elements, etc.); (ii) taste parameters by repeated panel tests; (iii)
> components that are good for human health (phenols, selenium, fibres,
> vitamin C [ascorbic acid] and vitamin E); and (iv) fruit "vitality quality"
> by holistic approaches using an image-forming technique (crystallization of
> apple juice in copper chloride, and chromatography in silver nitrate and
> iron sulfate), degradation tests and feeding preference tests with
> laboratory rats.
>
> All fruit samples from organic orchards had significantly firmer fruit flesh
> (14%) and had 15% higher taste marks than those from conventional orchards.
> P content was 31% higher in organic apples and was closely correlated with
> technical quality (r2>0.93) and sensory score (r2>0.69). Content of phenols
> (mainly flavanols) was 19% and image-forming quality 60% higher in organic
> apples. The image-forming method distinguished correctly (100%) the organic
> and integrated samples and was closely in line with technical quality
> (r2>0.68). These results show that organically grown apples can have an
> outstanding inner quality.
>
> Reference: Weibel, F. P. et al. (2000) Are organically grown apples tastier
> and healthier? A comparative field study using conventional and alternative
> methods to measure fruit quality. In: Proceedings of the XXV International
> Horticultural Congress. Part 7. Quality of horticultural products: starting
> material, auxiliary products, quality control, Brussels, Belgium, 2-7
> August, 1998 [edited by Herregods, M., Boxus, P., Baets, W. and Jager, A.
> de]. Acta Horticulturae No. 517, pp. 417-426

De rest is ook lezenswaardig.
Jelle.

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