U.S. Per Capita Bean Use Rises

VANCOUVER - Jul 26/07 - SNS -- Per capita consumption of dry edible beans rose in the United States in 2006 and will likely hold steady this year, according to the USDA's Gary Lucier.

Writing in the USDA Economic Research Service's annual, yearbook edition of the Vegetables and Melons Outlook, Lucier said, "Per capita use of dry beans increased 4% in 2006 to 6.4 pounds—the second consecutive annual increase after reversing a string of five consecutive annual declines last year. Little change is currently expected in net domestic dry bean use in 2007, with supplies remaining tight and prices high.

"In 2006, gains in per capita net domestic use were noted for both white (up 14%) and nonwhite bean (up 1%) classes. White beans (navy, Great Northern, lima, and small white) accounted for 21% of all dry beans available domestically—up from 19% a year earlier but down from 31% a decade ago. Although apparent market share was lower in 2006, nonwhite beans (e.g., pinto, dark red kidney, black, etc.) remained dominant, led by pinto beans, black beans, and the surging popularity of garbanzo beans (mostly kabuli chickpeas)."

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