Food wastes are thought to be a substantial source of bioactive components with many functions and varying biological activities, therefore, numerous studies have been conducted on the use of these wastes to maximize their benefits. Nano-materials have been demonstrated that have higher bioavailability, functionality and effectiveness in the food systems. This study was conducted to determine how the nutritional value and quality characteristics of ice cream would be affected by the use of nano-powders made from apricot (Prunus sp.) and peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) kernels, watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) rind and banana (Musa spp.) peel as functional additives (1%).

The tested nano-waste powders significantly (P < 0.05) increased the total solids, protein, fat and ash contents distinctly with apricot kernels (AK) and peach kernels (PK). The physiochemical properties of ice cream mix and the final product were also affected with a significant increase of viscosity and overrun. Watermelon rind (WMR) and banana peel (BP) boosted the total phenolic content and diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity (%) as compared to the control and other wastes. The added nano-waste powders, except for BP, enhanced the meltability, microstructure properties and improved the sensory attributes of the resultant ice cream during 30 days of storage compared to control. The study recommends utilization of the tested nano fruit wastes as value added components to create innovative and higher-quality ice cream.

Rice is a staple crop in Nigeria. Even with a push to increase domestic production, little is known about the functionality of Nigeria’s open bag markets and the preferences of consumers for specific rice attributes. Our study uses a hedonic price model to identify quality attribute preferences of consumers and potential market failures. Our results indicate that Nigerian consumers prefer rice with homogenous long slender kernels and a low presence of broken rice and are indifferent to chalkiness. The findings are useful as they can inform future strategies for rice breeders, domestic policy makers, and rice exporters.

This study investigates the effects of material and symbolic quality attributes on the Cup of Excellence specialty coffee quality scores and prices. The estimates from the quality score equations suggest that material attributes are important determinants, but symbolic attributes have a greater explanatory power. The hedonic price estimations show that specialty coffee prices are mainly determined by symbolic attributes and market conditions such as the number of coffees in the auction. Overall, the study reveals that fruity, floral, sweet, spice, and sour acid are cuppers' and buyers' most favorite coffee flavors and aromas.

As growers adopt and diffuse improved food crop cultivars, their investment decisions for producing new cultivars control product accessibility and directly affect the entire supply chain. In this study, we estimated growers’ willingness to invest (willingness to pay (WTP)) in cultivars with improved quality traits for five rosaceous fruit crops: apple, peach, strawberry, sweet cherry, and tart cherry. WTP values differed by crop, but fruit flavor was consistently rated one of the most important traits, with higher WTP. This information will help breeding programs focus resources to develop superior cultivars for long-term economic sustainability of the rosaceous fruit industry.

A sample of U.S. consumers were surveyed in a choice based experiment in theFall of 2005 and Spring 2006 to elicit Consumers' preferences for qualityattributes in beef products. Based on the resulting data, a randomcoefficients logit model is estimated, and Consumers' willingness to pay forthese quality attributes in beef products is obtained. The results indicatethat consumers have strong valuation for traceability, grass-fed, and U.S.origin attributes in a standard rib-eye steak and are willing to pay apremium for these attributes.

Various studies have dealt more or less directly with qualitative questions concerning social services provided in the home. While as a result of such studies the general characteristics of home services of importance to elderly people are quite well known, this is not the case regarding the relative importance assigned to such characteristics. Personal interviews using the ‘Multiattribute Utility Technology’ (MAUT) were used. This procedure organises the attributes in a ‘tree’ structure for comparing the relative importance & ranking of different quality attributes. A random sample of 180 receivers of home-help services aged 65 to 95 and living in a rural, small town and city area were interviewed. The interviewed persons were asked to rank-order according to personal importance each grouping of quality attributes. The relative values of the different qualities were determined, using a scale with a range from 0 to 100 points. Continuity, especially Staff Continuity, was the most important quality attribute together with Suitability and Personal Relation. Availability and Influence were the least important quality attributes. The characteristics studied had largely the same relative importance for all older people, irrespective of category.