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Restrictions on social interaction and travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic have affected how researchers approach fieldwork and data collection. Whilst online focus groups have received attention since the 2000s as a method for qualitative data collection, relatively little of the relevant literature appears to have made use of now ubiquitous video calling software and synchronous, interactive discussion tools. Our own experiences in organising fieldwork aimed at understanding the impact of different “future-proofing” strategies for the European agri-food system during this period resulted in several methodological changes being made at short notice. We present an approach to converting in-person focus group to a virtual methodology and provide a checklist for researchers planning their own online focus groups. Our findings suggest data are comparable to in-person focus groups and factors influencing data quality during online focus groups can be safeguarded. There are several key steps, both before and during the focus groups, which can be taken to ensure the smooth running of such events. We share our reflections on this approach and provide a resource for other researchers moving to online-only data collection.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate six different fruits from the Cerrado as to their chemical and bioactive properties.

Six different fruits from the Cerrado (araticum, baru, jatoba-do-cerrado, lobeira, macauba and pequi) were characterized regarding moisture, ash, lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, carotenoids, chlorophyll, ascorbic acid, flavonoids, phenolic compounds and their antioxidant activities.

The highest flavonoid content, which was found in araticum pulp, was significantly different from the ones of other fruit pulps. The carotenoid content of pequi pulp was 12-fold the one of lobeira pulp. The vitamin C content of baru pulp was five-fold the Reference Daily Intake (RDI). In relation to the antioxidant activity, araticum (5.7 µM/g) and jatoba (5.2 µM/g) pulps exhibited the highest values (p < 0.01). Both baru and araticum pulps were capable of capturing the radical with mean percentage of discoloration of 68.7 and 67.4%, respectively (p < 0.01).

Native fruits of the Cerrado have been poorly described in the literature, even though they are highly consumed in the region. Publicizing their nutritional characteristics can increase the commercial value of these fruits, which have been traditionally devalued. In addition, knowledge of new sources of nutrients contributes to their use by pharmaceutical and food industries.