Canada has a small domestic market for chickpeas and chickpea products. According to the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers Association this need is currently being met by imports from Mexico, California, Australia, Malawi and Turkey. Chickpeas can tolerate light spring frost and are relatively drought tolerant due to their long taproot. Round seeded peas are used mostly for food and feed. The wrinkled seed peas are harvested when immature and used for freezing and canning.
Peas are among the world's oldest crops.
They can be traced back to as early as 9000 years ago. Saskatchewan is the world's largest dry pea exporter. Dry peas demand adequate moisture and react badly to drought and high temperatures. They are somewhat frost resistant and can be grown on summer fallow. The seeds are shaped like lenses and range in colour from green to brown to grey to a whole host of other colours.