Homemaker Preferences for Pies and Canned and Frozen Cherries in Dallas, Detroit, and Kansas City

Excerpts from the report: This research was undertaken by the Agricultural Marketing Service to assist industry in expanding the consumption of red sour cherries -- a product principally used as a pie filler. To provide data on the use and market potential of red sour cherries, household consumer surveys were conducted in 3 cities -- Dallas, Tex.; Detroit, Mich.; and Kansas City, Mo. Since the major use of red sour cherries is as a pie filler, consumers were first asked to discuss their pie baking habits, such as what pies they baked and what fillers they used, in order to provide a complete framework for the discussion. In addition, specific questions were included on the use of cherries, both as a pie filler and as a dessert. The data developed are of importance to such groups as cherry growers and processors, producers and processors of fruits other than cherries, bakeries, producers of flour and ready-mix bakery products, and other industries producing or processing commodities for consumption in pies or as desserts.