Growing our own Chick Peas – Our homemade Hummus just got even better
We’re always looking for new and innovative ways to improve our product line. Sure, our hummus is popular among dog owners. It’s creamy and has a texture that canines really like, but is this the pinnacle of our creation? I wasn’t convinced. I still think it can be better. That was the driving force behind me deciding to make the ingredients one better. We’re already growing our own blueberries. Why not grow our own chick peas? Chick peas – also known as garbanzo beans – are the foundation of our hummus. They give hummus body and texture. Here’s the game plan:
Chicks are a cool season crop. They should be sowed (don’t pre-soak them) inside in peat pots or some kind of paper container that allows for good drainage. Once the young plants reach approx. 5” in height – and the danger of a last frost has passed – it’s time to transplant them into a garden bed. I like the idea of a raised bed with copious amounts of compost mixed in. The young plants should be spaced approx. 4” to 5” apart. Leave them right in the peat pots. Soil micro-organisms will naturally break apart the pots and allow the fledging roots to grow. Avoid too much nitrogen as this can promote superfluous green leaf growth. This can give you a green, leafy plant but may diminish crop yield. Instead, make sure your young Chick plants have plenty of potassium and phosphorous. These are the building blocks to productive pod formation and ultimately a better yield.
Sowing to harvest takes approx. (100) days. Chicks should be planted in full sun, although some varieties will tolerate some shade. Water sparingly (about once a week).
The Threat of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s)
Chick Peas are not a typical GMO crop. As far as grocery store brands go, I did a quick search and noticed that one brand in my local market (Goya Foods) does not have Non-GMO certification on their bag of beans – or any of their products for that matter. Conversely, a competitor (Jack Rabbit Foods) did have Non-GMO certification on most – not all – of their legume (chick peas are a legume) products. Interestingly enough, Jack Rabbit Foods actually had both. They offer a Non-GMO version and another that has no mention of certification at all. Not to overstate the point, I think labeling of whether or not your product has been subjected to DNA altered seeds is important. I would tend to buy a product that has been labeled as opposed to not being labeled. It’s very simply, the right to know.
The top GMO (Genetically modified organisms) crops:
(1) Corn
(2) Soy
(3) Canola
(4) Cottonseed
(5) Sugar Beets
(6) Hawaiian papaya
(7) Yellow squash
(8) Zucchini
(9) Some varieties of pineapple
Notice that chick peas did not make the list (above) of top genetically modified crops. A closer look reveals that not one legume (black eyed peas, black beans, pinto beans, red kidney beans, etc.) made the top (9) list above. That’s important because hummus can be made using various legumes as the base ingredient. Chick peas are the most widely used, but we are also using white beans as the foundation of our Diets for Life Berry Berry Good hummus that will debut sometime in 2018.
What about labeling? Does it Matter?
Yes, I think in today’s world with the uncertainty of product purity being a major issue, labeling can mean the difference between your product being viable or being cast aside as potentially tainted. I decided to include Non-GMO labels on the sides of our Diets for Life Blueberry & Strawberry flavored hummus products. Since we will be marketing our hummus in stores in 2018, its imperative that we comply with the highest standards set forth by the AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials). Once we start using our own cultivated chick peas (hopefully in 2018), product wholesomeness should never be an issue.
Chicks are a cool season crop. They should be sowed (don’t pre-soak them) inside in peat pots or some kind of paper container that allows for good drainage. Once the young plants reach approx. 5” in height – and the danger of a last frost has passed – it’s time to transplant them into a garden bed. I like the idea of a raised bed with copious amounts of compost mixed in. The young plants should be spaced approx. 4” to 5” apart. Leave them right in the peat pots. Soil micro-organisms will naturally break apart the pots and allow the fledging roots to grow. Avoid too much nitrogen as this can promote superfluous green leaf growth. This can give you a green, leafy plant but may diminish crop yield. Instead, make sure your young Chick plants have plenty of potassium and phosphorous. These are the building blocks to productive pod formation and ultimately a better yield.
Sowing to harvest takes approx. (100) days. Chicks should be planted in full sun, although some varieties will tolerate some shade. Water sparingly (about once a week).
The Threat of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s)
Chick Peas are not a typical GMO crop. As far as grocery store brands go, I did a quick search and noticed that one brand in my local market (Goya Foods) does not have Non-GMO certification on their bag of beans – or any of their products for that matter. Conversely, a competitor (Jack Rabbit Foods) did have Non-GMO certification on most – not all – of their legume (chick peas are a legume) products. Interestingly enough, Jack Rabbit Foods actually had both. They offer a Non-GMO version and another that has no mention of certification at all. Not to overstate the point, I think labeling of whether or not your product has been subjected to DNA altered seeds is important. I would tend to buy a product that has been labeled as opposed to not being labeled. It’s very simply, the right to know.
The top GMO (Genetically modified organisms) crops:
(1) Corn
(2) Soy
(3) Canola
(4) Cottonseed
(5) Sugar Beets
(6) Hawaiian papaya
(7) Yellow squash
(8) Zucchini
(9) Some varieties of pineapple
Notice that chick peas did not make the list (above) of top genetically modified crops. A closer look reveals that not one legume (black eyed peas, black beans, pinto beans, red kidney beans, etc.) made the top (9) list above. That’s important because hummus can be made using various legumes as the base ingredient. Chick peas are the most widely used, but we are also using white beans as the foundation of our Diets for Life Berry Berry Good hummus that will debut sometime in 2018.
What about labeling? Does it Matter?
Yes, I think in today’s world with the uncertainty of product purity being a major issue, labeling can mean the difference between your product being viable or being cast aside as potentially tainted. I decided to include Non-GMO labels on the sides of our Diets for Life Blueberry & Strawberry flavored hummus products. Since we will be marketing our hummus in stores in 2018, its imperative that we comply with the highest standards set forth by the AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials). Once we start using our own cultivated chick peas (hopefully in 2018), product wholesomeness should never be an issue.
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Other New Developments for 2018
In addition to our new Non-GMO labels, we are also introducing complete nutritional profile labels that will start appearing on the bottom of our hummus containers. The profile will include complete % RV, vitamin and mineral values and even the glycemic index and glycemic load principles. Our hummus products do contain all of the (10) requisite amino acids that canines need and will be duly noted. All of this information will be updated on our website. Interested individuals can call us for more information at # (609) 586–4815 during regular business hours (9AM to 5 PM) for a prompt response. I typically return all domestic (not applicable outside the USA) phone calls within a (24) to (48) hour period.
In addition to our new Non-GMO labels, we are also introducing complete nutritional profile labels that will start appearing on the bottom of our hummus containers. The profile will include complete % RV, vitamin and mineral values and even the glycemic index and glycemic load principles. Our hummus products do contain all of the (10) requisite amino acids that canines need and will be duly noted. All of this information will be updated on our website. Interested individuals can call us for more information at # (609) 586–4815 during regular business hours (9AM to 5 PM) for a prompt response. I typically return all domestic (not applicable outside the USA) phone calls within a (24) to (48) hour period.
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