Canadian Special Crops Association
The Canadian pulse and special crops industry is a leading global supplier of nutritious, sustainable, high-quality ingredients. Canadian pulses and special crops meet the nutritional needs of people and animals in over 130 countries.
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Canada is the world’s largest producer and exporter of peas. Canadian peas are available in whole or split form and as functional ingredients like flours, starches, proteins and fibres. Canadian peas are used globally as ingredients in food products, animal feed, pet food and aquaculture.
Canadian lentils have a global reputation for their quality. Canada grows primarily red and green lentils that are consumed worldwide as a source of protein, fibre and other key nutrients. Canadian lentils are available whole, dehulled, split, and as flours and fractions.
Canada grows mostly kabuli chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) and a small quantity of desi chickpeas. Canadian chickpeas are often consumed whole, or as ingredients in popular food products like hummus, pasta, snack foods, and baked goods.
There are over a dozen varieties of beans produced in Canada – including navy, pinto, cranberry, black, dark and light red kidney, great northern, dutch brown, pink, small red, and adzuki. Canada also produces faba beans, an ingredient with growing interest in the food industry. Canadian beans are sold domestically and for export.
Canada grows yellow, brown and oriental mustard. Canadian yellow mustard is used as a condiment in North America, while brown mustard is primarily exported to Europe for condiments and specialty products like Dijon mustard. Oriental mustard is mainly grown for export to Asia for use in condiments and as an oil in traditional cooking. For more information on mustard, click here.
Both oil and confectionary-type sunflowers are grown in Canada. Confection sunflower seeds are consumed as a roasted snack food, or used by the baking industry. Oilseed sunflowers are grown for birdfeed or to produce high-quality sunflower oil for human consumption. More information on sunflower seeds is available here.
Canadian buckwheat has traditionally been exported to countries like Japan to make products such as soba noodles. However, buckwheat is growing in popularity in North America and other markets as a nutritious, high-protein and gluten-free ingredient in baked goods and other food products.
Canada has become the world’s leading producer and exporter of canaryseed. Canaryseed is used almost exclusively as a component of feed mixtures for caged and wild birds, but it can also be used as a nutritious, high-protein ingredient in bakery and snack food applications. Click here for more information on canaryseed.
