Garbanzo beans, also known as chickpeas, are one of the most widely consumed legumes in the world. In the U.S., most garbanzo beans are grown in California and the Pacific Northwest, and in WA, garbanzo and other legumes are grown in eastern Washington. Chickpeas are grown in great quantities in Walla Walla and Columbia counties. Chickpeas are frequently used as a rotation crop with dryland wheat, because they are a "nitrogen fixer," which means they put nitrogen into the soil.
While most people are familiar with dry chickpeas, many don't know that they can also be eaten fresh (green)! Lots of Washington's chickpeas go into hummus, some are canned, and some are sold dry.
Garbanzo beans are beige to pale yellow in color and have a firm texture and a buttery and nutty taste - a flavor somewhere between chestnuts and walnuts.
Learn about using chickpeas in schools and other institutions at the USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council.
Handy Guide to Washington Beans Poster
Click to download the full-size PDF.
The poster is designed to be printed at 11" x 17"
Highlight Washington-grown beans and lentils served in your program with this beautiful poster! This educational poster helps people identify and cooking certain types of legumes.
Special thanks to Washington State Department of Health and Ferndale Food Bank for partnering to develop the posters.
Posters, activities, and handouts:
- Harvest of the Month Poster template [PPT] for garbanzo beans, with space to fill in farm name - from WSDA Farm to School
- Pulses poster with nutrition facts and more - from USA Pulses
- Harvest of the Month handout [PDF] with activities, nutrition facts, reading list, and more - from Whatcom Farm to School
- All about chickpeas handout [PDF] with recipes and cooking tips - from USA Pulses
- Other resources - from USA Pulses
- Pulse on Health STEM in the Classroom Curriculum [PDF] including garden-based activities - from WSU Extension
- Student activities - from USA Pulses
