Chickpeas (also traded as garbanzo beans) are a high-demand pulse in both the food-manufacturing and foodservice sectors, driven by growth in hummus production, plant-based protein ingredients, and South Asian and Mediterranean cuisines. The desi (small, dark) and kabuli (large, cream-colored) market types command different price points and end-use specifications, a distinction that matters for contract specifications even though both fall under this heading. FDA food-safety requirements — including mycotoxin testing and foreign-facility registration — apply at entry. Importers sourcing from multiple origins should track crop-year quality variation, as chickpea yields and aflatoxin risk fluctuate with growing-season conditions.

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