FOOD quality and safety are the key focus areas for two new Department of Primary Industries (DPI) New South Wales research horticulturists who will work with industry to present consumers with high quality fruit and vegetables.
Dr Roberto Marques and Dr Sukhvinder Pal Singh are part of the DPI post-harvest team at the Central Coast Primary Industries Centre at Ourimbah.
Dr Marques said his research was focused on post-harvest quality.
“One of my key areas of research is on sensory evaluation of the product,” Dr Marques said.
“I am interested in the flavour of the product as well, and trying to link the quality of the product with consumer engagement.”
Dr Marques will work with taste test groups as part of his research.
“What the consumer perceives as important is the flavour; flavour is the ultimate quality characteristic, and how much the consumer is enjoying the product.”
He said feedback from these test groups would be passed back on to the industry and ultimately to growers.
Dr Sukhvinder will work with Dr Marques, but with a stronger focus on food safety.
His research will revolve around delivering safe produce to the consumer, examining potential contamination risk factors, such as water quality when washing produce.
“My role is to work with industry to make sure it has have good practices on the farm,” Dr Sukhvinder said.
