BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Desert Fruit or Lakatan (Musa acuminata Colla) is one of the most abundant and an all-
year-round fruit in the Philippines, while jam can be use whenever people want to eat bread with
a spread or dip any other food to satisfy their cravings. The sweetness of Lakatan banana
captures every Filipino’s taste preference because of its richness and distinct flavor from other
kinds of banana making it a “healthy meryenda” that is suitable for all ages. Producing a jam
made out of Lakatan and filling it into a dumpling wrapper will satisfy the cravings of consumers
who are into sweet foods with its abundant nutritive values.
According to Statista Research Department (2023), the average domestic wholesale price
of desert fruit banana in the Philippines is amounted to 38.1 php per kilogram. Lauro Braganza
(2023) claimed that Lakatan is one of the 3 most popular banana cultivars in the Philippines and
Lakatan farming is highly profitable for it is widely grown in the Philippines. Additionally, one
thing that sets them apart from other types of fruit is that they can be eaten when fully ripe or
cooked while still green. Lakatan bananas are not only delicious but also packed with essential
nutrients such as vitamin C, potassium, fiber, antioxidants and they are low in calories, this
makes them an excellent choice for those who want to maintain a healthy diet without sacrificing
its taste. Additionally, they contain and provide benefits for digestion, heart health, can help
moderate blood sugar levels after meals and may reduce appetite by slowing stomach emptying
(Organics.ph, 2015). In recent years, the demand for sustainable agriculture practices has
increased worldwide – including within the Philippine farming industry where Lakatan farming
has become increasingly popular due to its eco-friendly nature and the economic benefits it
provides to local farmers.
The 6Wresearch (2023) found out that the occurrence of Covid-19 pandemic has resulted
into a slump in the market growth of jam industry. This attributed the increase of demand for
natural flavors in food products, as well as health consciousness among consumers making the
market anticipate in fruit-based jams. In addition, Gian Franco (2021) stated that, “Fruit jams
offer several surprising health benefits. Despite of the sugar content, fruit jams can help maintain
weight when consumed in moderation to curb appetite. Preserves can also provide energy and
endurance before high-impact movements.”
In addition, Technavio (2023) stated that, “Dumplings are prepared around the world in
many different forms. Almost every region has its own version of dumplings with different
shapes, sizes, flavors, and fillings.” Also, availability of different dumpling varieties is the key
factor driving the growth of the market, while customers’ preference is continuously growing
towards ready-made foods, including dumplings (Technavio, 2023). Dumplings are very popular
in Asian cuisines, according to Petre (2023), “Asian-style dumplings are among diners’ favorites
at Japanese, Chinese and Korean restaurants.”
Furthermore, one of the major problems faced by the Philippine fruit and vegetable
industry is the short shelf life of the products. According to Hernandez (2023), “There is a high
postharvest loss up to 40% or almost PhP 26M loss per year and food wastage of fruits due to
over-ripening, rotting, bruises, dents etc. This amounts to millions of pesos in the Philippines
where food is the primary concern of the population. The industry is faced with the challenge of
retaining and/or improving the quality and prolonging the shelf life of fresh produce from harvest
to the final customer.” Wastage of Lakatan banana in the market greatly affects the income of
banana farmers. The Lakatan jam dumpling product will further affect the Lakatan’s production
because there are still Lakatan bananas that are wasted despite of the low rate of Lakatan
production. In addition, the use of excessive artificial preservatives in extending the shelf life of
banana to lessen banana wastage will likely cause potential hazard like foodborne diseases and
related outbreaks. Furthermore, Aspire Fitness Walnut (2019) stated that, “Dumplings are usually
very healthy as they hold lots of whole ingredients which can offer a large variety of different
micronutrients. However, there is a poor balance of macronutrients as most of the calories will be
coming from carbs and fats. This means that dumplings are not ideal for managing a healthy
weight but can still be eaten if the portion is controlled properly.”
Researchers proposed Lakatan jam dumpling (Lakajamplings) to capture the taste
preference of students who doesn’t recognize the unique flavor and multiple nutrients of
Lakatan. The plan of creating ready-to-eat snack with new twist is to incur students’ curiosity as
well as bringing the healthy appetite that students must have when eating and thinking about this
newly created Lakatan jam flavored dumplings. Due to the seasonal and perishable nature of
fruits they must be consumed within a short period of time or preserved for consumption over a
longer period of time. To achieve this, it is important to kind the best way to process and
preserve them so as to avoid wastage of the fruits during their peak season. Additionally, jam is a
high sugar product, therefore, by making Lakatan jam, researchers maintain equitable measure to
reduce the use of sugar and preserve the taste of Lakatan. Using Lakatan jam in a dumpling
allows constant supply of banana that helps get rid of Lakatan wastage that are usually thrown
away and to increase Lakatan production. The process of making jam will also preserve the life
of Lakatan without using artificial preservatives to avoid causing potential hazards like
foodborne diseases.
This study aims to determine the acceptability of Lakajamplings (Lakatan Jam
Dumplings) among the students of Cauayan City Stand-Alone Senior High School and to
develop a new and healthy dumpling inspired by Filipino local ingredient without altering the
natural flavor of its filling (Lakatan). Thus, the Lakajampling will serve as a good choice for
students who loves to eat sweet foods as well as to those students who are conscious to their
health who wants to eat ready-made snack.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK