Black Eyed Peas are also known as cow peas. They are believed to have come from Africa and Asia but most believe the bean followed the slave trade routes, i.e. originating in Africa and into dishes throughout the Caribbean and Southern US. Combine with rice, onions and pork and you have an original Black Eyed Pea dish. Storage Advantage: This product is packaged in a poly bucket which is flushed with Nitrogen. Storing your food in a cool and dry environment along with nitrogen packing insures living organisms can't survive and provides maximum shelf life. Oxygen absorbers are helpful but they can only absorb a set amount of oxygen before the absorbtion chemical expires. Nitrogen will remain in the bucket until it is emptied.