Editor's note: This article appeared in the December 6, 2010, edition of Quirk's e-newsletter.

Half of adults rank antioxidants as the top nutrient they are most concerned about adding to their diets - ahead of calcium, fiber and iron, according to data from Los Angeles juice company Bossa Nova. However, despite this desire, the majority of adults don't know which fruits provide the most antioxidants.

Thirty-two percent of consumers mistakenly select blueberries over acai berries for highest antioxidant content when selecting from a list of fruits that include blueberries, pomegranates, cranberries, red grapes and oranges. In addition, as many as 15 percent of consumers simply don't know which fruits are highest in antioxidants. Adding to the confusion, many consumers who are familiar with acai have misperceptions about the its health benefits, as 25 percent of those surveyed mistakenly believe acai juice helps with weight loss.

Fifty-eight percent of consumers are familiar with pomegranates, while less than 20 percent are familiar with acai. The number drops significantly (7 percent and fewer) when consumers are asked whether they are familiar with other superfruits such as goji, acerola and mangosteen. Younger adults, however, are savvier on this subject than older adults.
 
Women are most likely to try a new fruit or vegetable, as men are one-and-a-half times less likely than women to try a new fruit or vegetable. Adults are more than twice as likely to try new fruits (65 percent) than to try new vegetables (28 percent).