Organic Fresh Produce: Comparison
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Growing and purchasing demand for organic fresh produce is increasing rapidly. Consumers are aware of health, environmental safety, pesticide harmfulness, nutrients, bioactive compounds, and safe food. Many research works are available on organic and conventional fresh produce. As organic fresh produce growing and purchasing demand is increasing, it has become necessary to review the recent trends in quality, safety, and consumer preferences of organic and conventional fresh food products. A few reports have been compiled on organic and conventional fresh produce. Researchers have started working on organic and conventional fresh produce with the help of modern technology to improve nutritional and functional quality, safety, and consumer preferences. Nutritional and functional quality, safety, and consumer preferences depend on cultivation techniques, treatment, crop cultivar, and appearance of products. Therefore, it is necessary to compile the literature on organic and conventional fresh produce based on quality, safety, and consumer preferences.

  • antioxidant
  • phenolic content
  • sugar content
  • vitamin C

1. Introduction

Organic and conventional fruit, vegetable, and cereal quality, safety, and preferences are becoming an issue for producers and consumers considered in the literature. Consumers demand quality and safety of fresh produce. Fresh produce quality reflects on taste, color, nutritional value, and microbial safety

[1][2]

.

Organic and conventional fruit, vegetable, and cereal quality, safety, and preferences are becoming an issue for producers and consumers considered in the literature. Consumers demand quality and safety of fresh produce. Fresh produce quality reflects on taste, color, nutritional value, and microbial safety [1,2].

As it is grown in an organic manner, there undoubtedly are no synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, which can be harmful to human health. While synthetic pesticides are not authorized in many countries for organic farming, growers use manure and compost as organic fertilizer [3][4]. Growing and consumption trends are increasing daily. For example, there has been around 90% sales increase in North America and Europe [5]. The organic food industry is convincing the public that it is healthier, tastier, and better for the environment. Consumers prefer organic produce due to socioeconomics and attitudes to human health and the environment.

As it is grown in an organic manner, there undoubtedly are no synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, which can be harmful to human health. While synthetic pesticides are not authorized in many countries for organic farming, growers use manure and compost as organic fertilizer [3,4]. Growing and consumption trends are increasing daily. For example, there has been around 90% sales increase in North America and Europe [5]. The organic food industry is convincing the public that it is healthier, tastier, and better for the environment. Consumers prefer organic produce due to socioeconomics and attitudes to human health and the environment.

The conventional system typically uses synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, which can be harmful to human health if growers use them improperly [4][6]. For the careful application of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, growers need proper knowledge about plant nutrients and food safety. Adequate application of fertilizers, pesticides, and manure can be beneficial for human health.

The conventional system typically uses synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, which can be harmful to human health if growers use them improperly [4,6]. For the careful application of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, growers need proper knowledge about plant nutrients and food safety. Adequate application of fertilizers, pesticides, and manure can be beneficial for human health.

It is very difficult to compare organic and conventional foods. A valid comparison requires the same cultivar, proximity of the farms, similar growing media, same climate conditions, and a similar growing system. In this review paper, we tried to compare organic and conventional fresh produce according to quality, safety, and consumer preferences. Moreover, we focused on fresh produce growing materials in the organic and conventional systems. This article highlighted an overview of the recent works on organic and conventional fruit, vegetable, and cereal production systems, product quality, product safety, and consumer preferences.

It is very difficult to compare organic and conventional foods. A valid comparison requires the same cultivar, proximity of the farms, similar growing media, same climate conditions, and a similar growing system. In this review paper, we tried to compare organic and conventional fresh produce according to quality, safety, and consumer preferences. Moreover, we focused on fresh produce growing materials in the organic and conventional systems. This article highlighted an overview of the recent works on organic and conventional fruit, vegetable, and cereal production systems, product quality, product safety, and consumer preferences.

2. Consumer Perception of Fresh Produce

Organic fresh produce markets are the fastest-growing in agriculture. In the year 2018, the organic food revenue in the USA was 40.56 billion euros, followed by Germany (10.91 billion euros) and France (9.14 billion euros), China (8.09 billion euros), Italy (3.48 billion euros), Canada (3.12 billion euros), Switzerland (2.66 billion euros), UK (2.54 billion euros), Sweden (2.30 billion euros) and Spain (1.90 billion euros) [7]. The growing and purchasing trends may vary from one country to another because of consumer demand. The per capita consumption of organic food in 2018 was the highest in both Denmark and Switzerland (312 euros), followed by Sweden (231 euros), Luxemburg (221 euros), Austria (205 euros), France (136 euros), Germany (132 euros), and the USA (124 euros) [7]. Consumers agreed to pay more for pesticide-free fresh produce because of perceptions of the negative health impact of synthetic pesticides [8]. Paying more for organic produce mainly depends on higher income, and the negative impact—on pesticides [8].

Safe consumption depends on personal and economic factors, sociocultural factors, and marketing factors [9]. These are age, gender, education, and marital status (personal factors); income and purchase intentions (economic factors); family size, status, and composition (sociocultural factors); price, advertising, and place (marketing factors). Besides, organic food consumption is influenced by the 4 P’s: product, price, place, and promotion.

Fresh and sustainable consumption, extrinsic attributes, health, sensory appeal, weight concern, and social status are used to consider organic food products. Furthermore, consumer motives, preferences, and attitudes can vary depending on the product category. Consumers are willing to pay additional 0.18 euro/kg organic apples in Italy [10], whereas in Denmark, it is 0.72 euro/kg [11]. Marketing strategy, product competition, social status, product satisfaction, and income may influence product purchases. Consumers like to buy organic vegetables at a higher price [12] because of safety. They also mentioned that purchasing organic food depends on attitudes, experiences, health status, knowledge, income, price, and sales. Organic food price is 10–40% higher in Denmark than the conventional food price [13] and 50–100% higher in Romania [14] due to consumers’ demand and high production cost. Organic fruits are safer because there are no pesticide residues. Appearance, freshness, nutritive value, and taste determine organic food preferences of consumers. Consumers prefer organic food due to its healthfulness and less environmental impact [15]. As a result, there is an increasing trend to consume organic foods instead of conventional foods.

3. Organic and Conventional Methods of Growing Fresh Produce

Organic fresh produce demand is increasing [7]. We need to confirm that organic fresh produce is rich in nutritional quality for human health. The improved nutritional value mainly depends on the cultural system, treatment, growing position, and environment. In the past two decades, many different research works have been compiled on organic and conventional systems [3,4,29,43,44,45,46]. According to Reganold and Wachter, [

Organic fresh produce demand is increasing [7]. We need to confirm that organic fresh produce is rich in nutritional quality for human health. The improved nutritional value mainly depends on the cultural system, treatment, growing position, and environment. In the past two decades, many different research works have been compiled on organic and conventional systems [3][4][16][17][18][19][20]. According to Reganold and Wachter, [

47

] conventional cultivation showed higher yield and higher total cost. The impact of organic and conventional methods on the quality of fresh produce is presented in 

Figure 1

.

Foods 10 00105 g001 550

Figure 1. Difference between conventional and organic farming [47].

Difference between conventional and organic farming [21].

The quality of fresh produce grown using organic and conventional methods is shown in 

Table 5. Among blueberries, the content of fructose, glucose, citric acid, malic acid, anthocyanin, total phenols, and flavonoids was higher in the organic ones than in the conventional produce [43]. Jin et al. [44] reported that organically grown strawberries contained higher glutathione, ascorbic acid, total anthocyanin, total phenolic acids, and had higher antioxidant activity compared to the conventionally grown ones. Organic tomatoes contained high sugar, phenols, flavonoids, whereas the conventionally grown ones had high acidity and high content of total polyphenols [29]. Organic bell peppers showed high dry matter, vitamin C, total carotenoids, total phenolic acids, quercetin, and kaempferol and conventional bell peppers showed high antheraxanthin, lutein, total flavonoids, myricetin, and luteolin [45]. In organic beetroots, dry matter, sugar, and vitamin C were increased [3], while antioxidant activity and ascorbic acid content were increased in lettuce [4]. Conventional beetroots showed high total polyphenols, flavonoids, and quercetin [3], while conventional lettuce showed high total soluble solids content, titratable acidity, total phenolic and total chlorophyll content [4]. Therefore, quality variation depends on the treatment, crops, and cultivation practice, but it is not possible to assign positive effects only to organic farming [3,4,29,43,44,45].

1. Among blueberries, the content of fructose, glucose, citric acid, malic acid, anthocyanin, total phenols, and flavonoids was higher in the organic ones than in the conventional produce [17]. Jin et al. [18] reported that organically grown strawberries contained higher glutathione, ascorbic acid, total anthocyanin, total phenolic acids, and had higher antioxidant activity compared to the conventionally grown ones. Organic tomatoes contained high sugar, phenols, flavonoids, whereas the conventionally grown ones had high acidity and high content of total polyphenols [16]. Organic bell peppers showed high dry matter, vitamin C, total carotenoids, total phenolic acids, quercetin, and kaempferol and conventional bell peppers showed high antheraxanthin, lutein, total flavonoids, myricetin, and luteolin [19]. In organic beetroots, dry matter, sugar, and vitamin C were increased [3], while antioxidant activity and ascorbic acid content were increased in lettuce [4]. Conventional beetroots showed high total polyphenols, flavonoids, and quercetin [3], while conventional lettuce showed high total soluble solids content, titratable acidity, total phenolic and total chlorophyll content [4]. Therefore, quality variation depends on the treatment, crops, and cultivation practice, but it is not possible to assign positive effects only to organic farming [3][4][16][17][18][19].

Table 51.

 The impact of organic and conventional methods on the quality of fresh produce.

No. Cultural Methods Fresh Produce Treatment Quality References
1 Organic and conventional Blueberries Organic: cover crops, peat, compost, fish meal, humus, and manure and organic herbicides (crop oils, vinegar, and soaps)

Conventional: NPK fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides		 Organic: fructose, glucose, citric acid, malic acid, anthocyanin, total phenolic acids, and flavonoids are high.

Conventional: fructose, glucose, citric acid, malic acid, anthocyanin, total phenolic acids, and flavonoids are low.		 [43][17]
2 Organic and conventional Strawberries Organic: horse manure, granite dust, no herbicides or insecticides, NPK from steamed bone meal, feather meal, soybean meal, langbeinite, and compost.

Conventional: NPK fertilizers, fungicides Switch and Captec, insecticides Lorsban and Brigade, herbicides Stinge and Herbimax.		 Organic: glutathione, ascorbic acid, total anthocyanin, total phenolic acids, and antioxidant activity are high.

Conventional: glutathione, ascorbic acid, total anthocyanins, total phenolic acids, and antioxidant activity are low.		 [44][18]
3 Organic and conventional Tomatoes Organic: green manure, 60% compost; biohumus, cow manure

Conventional: NPKMgS fertilizers		 Organic: sugar, phenol, flavonoids are high.

Conventional: acidity and total polyphenols are high.		 [29][16]
4 Organic and conventional Bell peppers Organic: green manure, compost, cow manure, organic protection.

Conventional: NPKS fertilizers, synthetic protection.		 Organic: dry matter, vitamin C, total carotenoids, total phenolic acids, quercetin, and kaempferol are high.

Conventional: antheraxanthin, lutein, total flavonoids, myricetin, and luteolin are high.		 [45][19]
5 Organic and conventional Beetroots Organic: N (low and high) from compost and manure, no pesticides.

Conventional: N (low) with pesticides.		 Organic: dry matter, sugar, and vitamin C are high.

Conventional: total polyphenols, flavonoids, and quercetin are high.		 [3]
6 Organic and conventional Lettuce Organic: Altavita, Altaverde, cow and chicken manure, no pesticides.

Conventional: NPK with deep irrigation.		 Organic: antioxidant activity and ascorbic acid content are high.

Conventional: total soluble solids content, titratable acidity, total phenolic content, and total chlorophyll content are high.		 [4]

Note: No. 6 refers to the greenhouse soil and the rest of them refer to field soil.

4. Nutritional Quality of Fresh Produce

In this section, soluble solids, sugar content, dry matter content, and dietary fiber are discussed. Increase and decrease in nutritional quality may depend on growing conditions and environmental factors.

4.1. Soluble Solids Content

The soluble solids content is an important parameter for consumer preferences. A higher soluble solids content is often associated with better taste [46]. The seawater treatment may convert organic acids to soluble sugar. In organic apples and strawberries (Diamante and San Juan), the soluble solids content increased [25,27] (

The soluble solids content is an important parameter for consumer preferences. A higher soluble solids content is often associated with better taste [20]. The seawater treatment may convert organic acids to soluble sugar. In organic apples and strawberries (Diamante and San Juan), the soluble solids content increased [22][23] (

Table 6). In the conventional cultivation system, the soluble solids content also increased in strawberries (Lanai), tomatoes, beets, and lettuce [3,4,6,20,25,27]. Some discovered that organic tomatoes, oranges, kiwifruits, lemons, and mandarins are rich in soluble solids [48,49]. Benge et al. [50] mentioned that conventional kiwifruits showed higher soluble solids than the organic ones, resulting in maturity. They mentioned that organic kiwifruits were probably harvested less mature. The increase and decrease in the soluble solids content may be influenced by cultivar, cultivation practices, treatment, nutritional concentration, and maturity stages of harvesting fresh produce.

2). In the conventional cultivation system, the soluble solids content also increased in strawberries (Lanai), tomatoes, beets, and lettuce [3][4][6][24][22][23]. Some discovered that organic tomatoes, oranges, kiwifruits, lemons, and mandarins are rich in soluble solids [25][26]. Benge et al. [27] mentioned that conventional kiwifruits showed higher soluble solids than the organic ones, resulting in maturity. They mentioned that organic kiwifruits were probably harvested less mature. The increase and decrease in the soluble solids content may be influenced by cultivar, cultivation practices, treatment, nutritional concentration, and maturity stages of harvesting fresh produce.

Table 62.

 Soluble solids and sugar content of organic and conventional fresh produce.

Fresh Produce Soluble Solids Content References
Organic Conventional
Apples Starking Delicious: 12.66 (Brix) Starking Delicious: 12.40 (Brix) [27][23]
Strawberries Diamante: 8.97, Lanai: 8.98, and San Juan: 8.96 (Brix) Diamante: 7.68, Lanai: 9.52, and San Juan:8.71 (Brix) [25][22]
Tomatoes Redondo: 4.38 (Brix) Redondo: 4.46 (Brix) [6]
Beetroots Libero: 6.0–7.4 (g/kg FW) Libero: 6.1–6.3 (g/kg FW) [3
]
[
16
]
Beetroots Libero: 131.1–142.6 (g/kg FW) Libero: 125.8–129.6 (g/kg FW) [3]
Cabbages Sufama F1: 6.59 (g/100 g FW) Sufama F1: 6.63 (g/100 g FW) [51][29]

4.2. Sugar Content

Organic pears, blackcurrants, beetroots, celery, kiwifruits, and tomatoes showed higher sugar content compared with the conventionally grown ones [3,28,29] (

Organic pears, blackcurrants, beetroots, celery, kiwifruits, and tomatoes showed higher sugar content compared with the conventionally grown ones [3][28][16] (

Table 6). Organic fruits contain less sugar [31] due to less Na, because Na treatment enhances the sugar content [18]. In contrast, the increased sugar content was found in conventional strawberries, apples, carrots, and cabbages [25,28,51]. Guilherme et al. [20] found that conventional and red peppers showed higher total soluble solids than the organic and green ones. The increase and decrease in sugar content may be influenced by crops, cultivars, treatment, and maturity of fresh produce.

2). Organic fruits contain less sugar [30] due to less Na, because Na treatment enhances the sugar content [31]. In contrast, the increased sugar content was found in conventional strawberries, apples, carrots, and cabbages [22][28][29]. Guilherme et al. [24] found that conventional and red peppers showed higher total soluble solids than the organic and green ones. The increase and decrease in sugar content may be influenced by crops, cultivars, treatment, and maturity of fresh produce.

4.3. Dry Matter Content

Organic melons, tomatoes, potatoes, beets, and watermelons showed increased dry matter [28] and conventional strawberries, wheat, barley, faba beans, and lettuce exhibited high dry matter [30,36] (

Organic melons, tomatoes, potatoes, beets, and watermelons showed increased dry matter [28] and conventional strawberries, wheat, barley, faba beans, and lettuce exhibited high dry matter [32][33] (

Table 7). Organic cabbages, red beets, peppers, tomatoes, and potatoes showed high dry matter content [20,45,52]. Moreover, the perilla and cabbage total dry matter content is higher in organic produce than in the conventionally grown one [51,53]. The dry matter content increases and decreases may happen due to water absorption by the plant. There was no difference in the water content of organic and conventional plums [31].

3). Organic cabbages, red beets, peppers, tomatoes, and potatoes showed high dry matter content [24][19][34]. Moreover, the perilla and cabbage total dry matter content is higher in organic produce than in the conventionally grown one [29][35]. The dry matter content increases and decreases may happen due to water absorption by the plant. There was no difference in the water content of organic and conventional plums [30].

Table 73.

 Dry matter and dietary fiber content of organic and conventional fresh produce.

Fresh Produce Dry Matter Content References
Organic Conventional
Wheat, barley, faba beans, potatoes Wheat: 89.4, barley: 89.5, faba beans: 88.1, potatoes: 19.2 (%) Wheat: 89.6, barley: 90.3, faba beans: 87.9, potatoes: 20.5 (%) [30][32]
Apples, pears, carrots, blackcurrants, beetroots, and celery Red Boskoop (apples): 12.4, Bartlett (pears): 12, Tiben (blackcurrants): 15.2, Perfection (carrots): 9.7, Czerwona Kula (beetroots): 12.2, and Jabłkowy (celery): 10.4 (%) Red Boskoop (apples): 13.4, Bartlett (pears): 11.2, Tiben (blackcurrants): 12.6, Perfection (carrots): 10.4, Czerwona Kula (beetroots): 8.3, and Jabłkowy (celery): 8.9 (%) [28]
Bell peppers Roberta: 82.2 (g/kg) Spartacus: 75.9 and Berceo: 78.4 (g/kg) [45][19]
Beetroots]
Libero: 163.7–182.4 (g/kg FW) Libero: 163.7–182.4 (g/kg FW) [3] Lettuce Caipira: 28–29 (g/kg) Caipira: 36 (g/kg) [4]
Cabbages Sufama F1: 9.22 (g/100 g FW) Sufama F1: 8.81 (g/100 g FW) [51][29] Sweet peppers Green: 3.8, red: 5.8 (Brix) Green: 4.4, red: 7.6 (Brix) [20][24]
Sweet peppers Green: 6.38, red: 5.87 (%) Green: 4.98, red: 5.03 (%) [ Sugar content
20][24] Apples, pears, carrots, blackcurrants, beetroots, and celery
Dietary fiber content Red Boskoop (apples): 7.9, Bartlett (pears): 6.9, Tiben (blackcurrants): 7.7, Perfection (carrots): 5.6, Czerwona Kula (beetroots): 8.4, and Jabłkowy (celery): 1.3 (%) Red Boskoop (apples): 9, Bartlett (pears): 6.7, Tiben (blackcurrants): 7.5, Perfection (carrots): 7.1, Czerwona Kula (beetroots): 5.9, and Jabłkowy (celery): 0.6(%) [28]
Grapes Flour: 62.70 (%) Flour: 69.70 (%) [55][36] Tomatoes Merkury, Akord, Rumba: 85.22 (g)

Picolino and Conchita: 88.93 (g)		 Merkury, Akord, Rumba: 83.48 (g)

Picolino and Conchita: 78.12 (g)		 [29
Pumpkins 2.68 (%) 2.47 (%) [56][37]
Talinum triangulare 42–79 (g/100 g Deionized water, DW) 40–73 (g/100 g DW) [57][38]
Sweet peppers Green: 11.4, red: 9.23 (%) Green: 11.6, red: 10.3 (%) [20][24]

Dry matter content increases the flesh product of organic lettuce and, as a result, produce shows less decay and decomposition with increased storage life [42]. Yu et al. [33] reported that dry matter content accumulated by photosynthesis is almost 7–20% higher in organic crops than in the conventionally grown ones. However, conventional potato tubers had more dry matter than organic tubers [54]. There is no difference in the dry matter content of beetroots, cabbages, and carrots [3].

Dry matter content increases the flesh product of organic lettuce and, as a result, produce shows less decay and decomposition with increased storage life [39]. Yu et al. [40] reported that dry matter content accumulated by photosynthesis is almost 7–20% higher in organic crops than in the conventionally grown ones. However, conventional potato tubers had more dry matter than organic tubers [41]. There is no difference in the dry matter content of beetroots, cabbages, and carrots [3].

4.4. Dietary Fiber

Conventional plums, grapes, and wheat performed better in total dietary fiber and soluble fiber than the organic ones [31,55] (

Conventional plums, grapes, and wheat performed better in total dietary fiber and soluble fiber than the organic ones [30][36] (

Table 7). In insoluble fiber, no differences between organic and conventional plum cultivation systems were found. The total dietary fiber content of the conventional Bordô grape flour and pumpkins was higher than of the organic ones [55,56]. Fruits and vegetables are a good source of dietary fiber. They are rich in bioactive compounds, which reduce the bioavailability of fat in the human diet. The dietary fiber might lower the bioavailability of carotenoids. Organically grown 

3). In insoluble fiber, no differences between organic and conventional plum cultivation systems were found. The total dietary fiber content of the conventional Bordô grape flour and pumpkins was higher than of the organic ones [36][37]. Fruits and vegetables are a good source of dietary fiber. They are rich in bioactive compounds, which reduce the bioavailability of fat in the human diet. The dietary fiber might lower the bioavailability of carotenoids. Organically grown 

Talinum triangulare and pumpkins contained more dietary fiber than the conventionally grown ones [56,57]. The most important is the growth/differentiation balance (GDB) hypothesis. Growth denotes the production of roots, stems, and leaves or cell division and elongation; differentiation indicates the enhancement of the structure or function of the existing cells [58]. In the case of the GDB hypothesis, growth and differentiation are necessary for primary and secondary metabolism [59]. Secondary metabolism gives a distinct aroma in grapes [60]. The conventionally grown sweet peppers showed higher fiber content than the organic ones at both the green and the red maturity stages [20].

and pumpkins contained more dietary fiber than the conventionally grown ones [37][38]. The most important is the growth/differentiation balance (GDB) hypothesis. Growth denotes the production of roots, stems, and leaves or cell division and elongation; differentiation indicates the enhancement of the structure or function of the existing cells [42]. In the case of the GDB hypothesis, growth and differentiation are necessary for primary and secondary metabolism [43]. Secondary metabolism gives a distinct aroma in grapes [44]. The conventionally grown sweet peppers showed higher fiber content than the organic ones at both the green and the red maturity stages [24].

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