Agronomy 2020, 10, 870; doi:10.3390/agronomy10060870 www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy Article Chemical–Physical, Sensory Analyses and Consumers’ Quality Perception of Local vs. Imported Loquat Fruits: A Sustainable Development Perspective Riccardo Testa, Giuseppina Migliore *, Giorgio Schifani, Ilenia Tinebra and Vittorio Farina Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 4, 90128 Palermo, Italy; riccardo.testa@unipa.it (R.T.); giorgio.schifani@unipa.it (G.S.); ilenia.tinebra@unipa.it (I.T.); vittorio.farina@unipa.it (V.F.) * Correspondence: giuseppina.migliore@unipa.it; Tel.: +39‐0912‐389‐6618 Received: 6 May 2020; Accepted: 15 June 2020; Published: 18 June 2020 Abstract: Local products and their distribution through short supply chains play a key role in the sustainable development of many rural areas, as affirmed by the 2030 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Agenda. Moreover, in the last years, more and more consumers have shown a specific interest towards local production, pushed by the need for healthy eating, protecting the environment, and boosting the local economy. However, the cultivation of local fruit varieties or ecotypes has considerably decreased in the last decades because of their low production potential. As a result, many farmers have been forced to replace local orchards with few worldwide grown cultivars, causing a loss of genetic agrobiodiversity. For instance, in Italy, the loquat market is composed of imported cultivars and local grown autochthonous fruits (ecotype). Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyze the chemical–physical and sensory qualities, as well as the determinants of Italian consumer preference towards local ecotype of loquat fruit compared to imported varieties. Results show that local ecotypes result in excellent physico‐chemical and sensory attributes, and that place of purchase and taste are the most important factors influencing consumers’ preference towards local loquats. Therefore, the cultivation of loquat ecotypes, together with effective marketing strategies, could increase the competitiveness of certain Italian rural areas, where this crop has always played a significant role in the economy. Keywords: ecotypes; Italy; Spain; consumer behavior; short supply chain; organoleptic characteristics 1. Introduction According to the 2030 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Agenda for Sustainable Development, every country by 2030 should allocate public and private financial resources to develop and carry out relevant strategies and programs aimed at ensuring economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable development [1]. In order to reach these objectives by 2030, the Agenda identifies 17 sustainable development goals with 169 associated targets, which entered into force on 1 January 2016, ranging from ending poverty and hunger to responding to climate change and sustaining global natural resources. Ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns represents one of the main goals since agriculture plays a key role in feeding the world population and ensuring the development of sustainable food production systems. In order to be sustainable, cropping systems, on the one hand, should increase the farmers’ income by means of higher quality products [2], and on the other hand, these systems should reduce the negative social and environmental impacts, thanks to the preservation, valorization, and promotion of local