Peas have been cultivated for thousands of years. We will inform you about the origin, provenance and history of this he althy vegetable.
Most of us probably buy peas (Pisum sativum) in the supermarket, where they are mainly found in cans or in the freezer. Only very few people know that the pea is a real traditional vegetable. Because the pea is one of the oldest crops of all, which is still cultivated on a large scale today. There are archaeological discoveries that suggest the pea was used by humans as early as 10,000 BC. was cultivated. However, it is quite complicated to compare the peas from today with finds of wild peas from the past. However, it can be assumed that due to the large-scale distribution in Europe, the pea was already around 7,000 to 8,000 BC. was cultivated. Various excavation sites in Anatolia, Cyprus and Bulgaria seem to show that humans have been feeding on the small, green globules for a very long time.
Origins and characteristics of the nutritious legume
Peas have their origins in the Middle East and have always been used as food for humans and animals. The protein-rich legume is nowadays worked into the surface of the earth with special automatic seed drills. The special property of the pea plant brings plenty of life to the arable land, because its special ability to bind nitrogen to a large extent supports the soil quality enormously. This is an important reason why peas are often grown as so-called pre-crops in order to be able to grow potatoes or grain after harvest.
The pea: still very popular today
The Germany-based Association for the Preservation of Crop Diversity e.V. (VEN) chose the pea as Vegetable of the Year in 2009. The pea has had a permanent place on the plates of various European countries since the 19th century. In addition, it serves many governments as a stored supply aid in the event of possible disasters in order to cover the supply of their own population.
The legume generally grows best in temperate climates. main growing countryof the pea is Canada, which produces a good 30% of the world crop. There are now countless varieties of peas, the most well-known of which are sugar peas, which are also often referred to as snow peas or snow peas. The largest growing areas are in France, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain and outside of Europe in African Zambia and South American Peru. In countries with high poverty rates, the pea is one of the most important staple foods. Along with rice, the small legume is a truly nutritious and life-saving part of the daily diet in these regions of the world.
For information on how to plant peas in the garden, see our special article.