Early Freezer 680 Pea Seeds

Early Freezer 680 peas have a high resistance to both Fusarium wilt and Powdery Mildew. These are an open pollinated variety, yet, the origin has been elusive to me. They have superb tolerance to heat stress and are a top choice for early peas.

The history of early freezer peas, particularly the varieties like “Early Freezer 680”, ties closely with the development of the frozen food industry. Early freezer peas are a type of pea specifically bred and selected for their suitability for freezing, offering qualities like sweetness, texture, and color retention after freezing.

The concept of freezing food for preservation has been around for a long time, especially in colder climates where sub-zero temperatures were used naturally. The first commercial freezing operation was established in 1861 in Sydney, Australia. However, the major breakthrough in frozen foods, and by extension frozen peas, came with the work of Clarence Birdseye in the early 20th century. Birdseye’s experiences in Newfoundland, Canada, with the Inuit showed him how fish frozen quickly in cold temperatures retained flavor and texture. This insight led to his development of fast-freezing techniques in the 1920s, with experiments including peas.

Birdseye’s method involved blanching peas immediately after picking and then fast-freezing them, which helped the peas retain a vibrant green color. He introduced these fast freezing techniques to the American consumer in 1929, marking the birth of the modern frozen food industry. This innovation paved the way for the variety of frozen foods we have today, including early freezer peas which are specifically bred for these freezing processes.

While the specific history of the “Early Freezer 680” variety is not detailed in the sources, it can be inferred that this variety, along with others, was developed in the context of this growing frozen food industry, with a focus on characteristics that would ensure quality and taste after freezing.

These pea seeds are available directly from Garden Faerie Botanicals in the heart of British Columbia, Canada. The collection features heirloom and heritage seeds that are personally cultivated organically without the use of any chemicals. Emphasizing historical, rare, non-GMO seeds, this selection preserves biodiversity through open-pollination.