Description

The field pea is one of the first crops domesticated by humans. Most (>90%) of the peas produced in Australia are the Dun type, which is around dimpled seed ranging in colour from green to brown. Australia is the leading producer and exporter of the Dun type of field pea worldwide and current production in Australia is approximately 400,000 tonnes of field pea annually.

Pea types

There are five main types of peas grown in Australia

• Blackeyed peas are a type of cowpea. They are cream coloured with a black spot.
• Blue peas are round, green peas are often used for canned peas.
• Dun peas are dimpled, greenish-brown in colour.
• Maple peas are round, with a brown, mottled or speckled outer coat and yellow centre. They are used for stock and bird feed.
• White peas are round, with a white outer coat and yellow inner. They are used as yellow split peas and for pea flour.