Abstract:
Microgreens are an emerging functional food crop with promise for sustainably diversifying global food
systems, facilitating adaptations to urbanization and global climate change, and promoting human health. Previous work
suggests microgreens have high nutritional quality, low environmental impacts, and broad consumer acceptance. For better
reception into the global food system and increased per capita consumption, research is needed to elucidate consumer
acceptance of various microgreens species, including factors contributing to their acceptance or lack thereof. Using a
consumer panel (n = 99), this study evaluated consumer sensory perception and acceptability of six microgreens species
(arugula, broccoli, bull’s blood beet, red cabbage, red garnet amaranth, and tendril pea), and potential drivers and barriers
to consumer acceptance. All microgreens species received high mean liking scores for acceptability by consumers (means
ranged from highly acceptable to slightly acceptable), with more distinct differences across microgreens species for flavor
and overall acceptability, which appeared to be driven by specific sensory properties. Data from principal component
analysis demonstrated that high acceptability scores were associated with higher intent to purchase microgreens and
negatively associated with food neophobia. Participants indicated that factors such as knowledge and familiarity of
microgreens, cost, access/availability, freshness/shelf life, among other factors, influence their intention to purchase
microgreens. These findings suggest that further integration of microgreens into the global food system will be met with
high consumer acceptability, but needs to be aligned with enhanced consumer education regarding microgreens, as well
as considerations of cost, availability/access, and freshness/shelf life.
