Lower Protein, Similar Starch in Peas

WINNIPEG - Jan 27/16 - SNS -- Protein content for yellow and green peas ranged from 17.0% to 28.4%, according to the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC).

The mean protein content for western Canadian peas harvested din 2015 was 22.2%, which was lower than the mean of 23.4% for 2014, and lower than the ten-year mean protein content of 23.4.

Western Canadian yellow peas

Mean protein content for No. 1 Canada Yellow peas was 21.9%, which was lower than the mean for 2014 (23.3%). Mean protein content for No. 2 Canada Yellow peas was 22.2%, which was lower than the mean for 2014 (23.5%).

Mean starch content for No. 1 Canada Yellow peas was 48.6%, same as the mean for No. 2 Canada Yellow peas (48.6%). The mean starch contents for both grades were similar to the means for 2014.

Mean total dietary fiber content for No. 1 Canada Yellow peas was 14.9%, slightly lower than the mean for No. 2 Canada Yellow peas (15.5%). Mean ash contents in both grades were slightly higher than that for 2014.

Potassium (K) was the most abundant macroelement present in yellow peas, followed by phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca). Among microelements, iron (Fe) was the highest, followed by zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu).

Mean water holding capacity for No. 1 Canada Yellow peas was 0.90 grams H2O per gram sample, which was higher than the mean value for 2014. Mean water hydration capacity for No. 2 Canada Yellow was 0.87 grams H2O per gram sample, which was also higher than the mean value for 2014.

The emulsifying capacity of No. 1 Canada Yellow peas was 267.0 milliliters oil per gram sample, which was lower than that for 2014. The emulsifying capacity of No. 2 Canada Yellow peas was 276.3 milliliters oil per gram sample, which was also lower than the emulsifying capacity for 2014.

Mean 100-seed weight for No. 1 Canada Yellow peas was 21.8 grams, while mean 100-seed weight for No. 2 Canada Yellow peas was 22.0 grams. Mean 100-seed weights for both grades of peas were higher than those for 2014.

The water absorption value for No. 1 Canada Yellow peas was 0.86 grams H2O per gram seeds. For No. 2 Canada Yellow peas, the water absorption value was 0.88 grams H2O per gram seeds. Water absorption values for both grades were similar to 2014 values.

Cooking times for No. 1 and No. 2 Canada Yellow peas were longer than those for 2014. For both No. 1 and No. 2 grades, mean firmness values of cooked peas were higher than values in 2014.

Western Canadian green peas

Mean protein content for No. 1 Canada Green peas was 21.3%, which was lower than the mean for 2014. Mean protein content for No. 2 Canada Green peas was 24.0%, which was slightly higher than the mean for 2014.

Mean starch content was 48.5% for No. 1 Canada Green peas, slightly higher than the mean for 2014, and 47.6% for No. 2 Canada Green peas, similar to the mean for 2014.

Mean total dietary fiber content for No. 1 Canada Green peas was 16.0%, higher than the mean for No. 2 Canada Green peas (15.5%). Ash content values for No. 1 and No. 2 Canada Green peas were similar to values in 2014.

Mean water holding capacity for No. 1 Canada Green peas (0.85 grams H2O per gram sample) was similar to the mean for No. 2 Canada Green peas (0.86 grams H2O per gram sample). The means for both grades were slightly higher than the means for 2014.

Mean emulsifying capacity was 264.8 milliliters oil per gram sample for No. 1 Canada Green peas and 264.5 milliliters oil per gram sample for No. 2 Canada Green peas, lower than in 2014.

Mean 100-seed weight for No. 1 Canada Green peas was 21.0 grams, similar to 2014. Mean 100-seed weight for No. 2 Canada Green peas was 23.6 grams, higher than that for 2014.

Mean water absorption values for No. 1 and No. 2 Canada Green peas were similar to 2014.

Mean cooking time for No. 1 Canada Green peas was 15.8 minutes and was 14.9 minutes for No. 2 Canada Green peas. Mean firmness values for cooked green peas for both grades were slightly higher than values for 2014.

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