Date of Award

6-2-2025

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

Department

Agricultural Business & Leadership

First Advisor

Matthew Blair

Second Advisor

Aditya Khanal

Abstract

Throughout the past years, since the Covid pandemics, global inflation and food insecurity have been on a constant incline (What is Food Insecurity, World Food Bank). In this research study, we explore consumer preference for canned legumes (beans and peas) as an inexpensive nutritional intervention to decrease the number of households experiencing food insecurity. The solution is based on the food sensory analysis of cowpeas (Black-Eye Peas), crowder peas, black beans, and pinto beans. Our main geographical locations included studies at two Land Grant Universities in the United States (Pennsylvania State University and Tennessee State University). At Pennsylvania State, we received a clear and unbiased response from consumers interpreting each sample using Compusense software. This testing was conducted with the University’s Food Science Department, which is known for its reputable sensory lab, for individually ‘blinded’ product evaluation with a total of 95 individuals recruited. The goal, for both testing, focused on the consumer’s acceptability rate towards incorporating cowpeas as a potential nutraceutical into their dietary intake and the consumer’s willingness to pay. At Tennessee State, we conducted a less formal study and taste test in a classroom setting, providing a written preference survey, filled by hand, with 25 participants including students, faculty, and staff. From the conclusions of both tests, it proves that our Null Hypothesis was proven correct, Southern consumers would be more likely to accept Cowpeas into their diet than Northern consumers.

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