This study compared the concentration of vitamin C (ascorbic acid, AA, and dehydroascorbic acid, DHA) and carotenoids (lycopene and β-carotene) between three fruits produced by organic and conventional farming. Vitamin C and carotenoids were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The Student t-test (α = 5%) was applied to determine differences between the organic and conventional production systems. AA content was significantly higher in organic acerola (4023.39 mg/100 g) compared to its conventional production (2294.53 mg/100 g). Conversely, AA content was significantly higher in conventional strawberries (42.45 mg/100 g) than the organic ones (30.74 mg/100 g). The conventional production also showed significantly higher contents of DHA (persimmon: 7.50 mg/100 g vs. 0.96 mg/100 g) and β-carotene (acerola: 6130.24 μg/100 g vs. 2486.38 μg/100 g) than the organic fruits. Lycopene was only detected in persimmons, but no significant difference was observed between farming systems. There was no evidence of the nutritional superiority of the organically grown fruits.
Research highlights
► Organic acerola presented higher concentration of AA and total vitamin C. ► Organic and conventional fruits were considered excellent sources of vitamin C. ► The studied fruits contribute to meet the nutritional requirements of vitamin A. ► Acerola was the most important source of provitamin A. ► There was no evidence of the nutritional superiority of the organically grown fruits.