There is no single lab test that proves the crop year of a pulse. You check it by combining a written crop-year clause, traceable purchase records, visual and cooking tests on samples, and an inspection of the actual lot before it is packed.
Mixing happens because old stock is often cheaper and still saleable. A small share blended into new crop can be hard to spot by eye, but it can change cooking time and appearance in your product.
Why older crop matters
- Older pulses often take longer to soak and cook, which matters to canners and packers.
- Seed coats can darken or dull with age, so the colour of the lot becomes uneven.
- Older stock has had more time for insect damage and moisture changes.
- Germination, where it matters for sprouting, tends to fall with age.
- Flavour can turn stale in long storage.
Checks you can do
- Crop year clause: write the crop year in the contract and the spec, and ask the supplier to confirm it on the invoice and packing list.
- Purchase records: ask the processor for APMC purchase slips or supplier invoices dated after harvest for the quantity being packed.
- Visual check: compare the lot with the approved new-crop sample for colour, lustre and uniformity under good light.
- Cook or soak test: soak and cook samples side by side with a known new-crop reference and time them.
- Germination test: useful for pulses sold for sprouting, and an indicator of age for others.
- Insect and damage count: higher levels of old holes and frass can point to older stock.
- Bag check: look for old or reused bags, faded marks and dust inside the lot.
Inspection on the ground
The strongest check is seeing the lot before it is packed. An inspector can see whether the stock in the warehouse matches the quantity bought this season, and can draw samples from many bags, not just the top of the stack.
Compare those samples with your approval sample. The difference between the two sample types is explained in pre-shipment versus approval samples. The general quality checks for pulses are in the main quality checks for pulses.
When old crop is acceptable
Old crop is not always a problem. Some buyers accept it at a lower price for uses where cooking time does not matter. The issue is disclosure. Agree in writing whether old crop is allowed, and in what share, so you pay the right price for what you receive.
How we help
We visit the processor, check purchase records against the lot and draw pre-shipment samples from across the stack. We then compare them with your approved sample before loading. Ask for a free sourcing review to set crop-year checks for your pulses.