Beans

Commodity Overview

Green beans and lima beans are the most familiar to most consumers. Broaden your bean category to offer more options to attract shoppers who are looking for something new and different.

PLUs

3048 Helda/flat
3049 fine
4527 Chinese long
4528 fava/broad
4066 green/French
4529 lima
4530 pole
4532 shell
4533 wax/yellow

Varieties

Retail Price Data is based on USDA Specialty Crops Market News surveys. Data collection ends on the report date and encompasses ad pricing good from the Saturday before the report release date through the following Friday. Weekly data - from over 400 retailers, comprising more than 30,000 individual stores with online weekly advertised features - covers over 250 produce items. Registered (logged-in) users, can access weekly reports and additional market information.

USDA Specialty Crops Market News publishes FOB and Movement data on a daily and weekly basis. Pricing and volume information is aggregated by commodity and published weekly, subject to any source-data adjustments. Commodity data is further processed based on origin (domestic vs imports) and type (regular vs. organic). Registered (logged-in) users, can access weekly reports and additional market information.

Facts

Lima beans contain folate, which has been shown to help prevent birth defects.
Yellow snap beans contain vitamin C, which is a known cancer fighter.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the following nutrient content descriptors for the specified varieties. Green beans: fat-free, saturated fat-free, sodium-free, cholesterol-free, low in calories and a good source of fiber. Yellow snap beans: fat-free, saturated fat-free, very low sodium, cholesterol-free, low-calorie and high in vitamin C. Lima beans: fat-free, saturated fat-free, very low sodium, cholesterol-free, a good source of fiber, a good source of potassium, a good source of iron, high in folate, a good source of phosphorus, a good source of copper and high in magnesium.

Sales Strategies

Use beans popularity as a staple item to move other product off the shelves, including bacon bits, minced onions, dried potatoes and almondine sauce ingredients.
Beans are available year-round, so keep them moving throughout the seasons.
Fall: As the weather turns colder, many consumers start thinking about soup. Include beans in fall soup displays as they are a staple in many soups.
Winter: Green bean casserole has long been a staple at many holiday tables. Promote them heavily during the Thanksgiving and Christmas shopping windows.
Spring: Beans can be a great side dish to springtime meals. Include them in Easter and Mother’s Day promotions.
Summer: Green beans bring back summertime memories for many. Encourage consumers to purchase green beans as a side dish for grilled meals. Let them know that beans can be grilled as well.

Dynamic Displays

Green beans and lima beans are the most familiar to most consumers. Use their knowledge of those beans to introduce consumers to other lesser-known varieties that may have similar traits.
Include both bulk and bagged product to cater to all types of consumers.
Place beans next to other more colorful vegetables like red cabbage or yellow squash to create an eye-catching color contrast.

Food Service

Many consumers are unfamiliar with yellow string beans. Cook them with the more familiar green beans to create an appealing side dish.
Include several types of beans in a vegetable medley.
Use beans as a protein replacement in vegetarian dishes.
Beans are best when used immediately. If you need to store them, store them as they arrive as most beans do not do well with heat, and some generate their own heat when stacked. Don’t wash or snap ends off the beans before storing them.

In the Backroom

Shipping
26- to 31-lb. bushel wirebound crates/bushel hampers 25- to 30-lb. cartons/crates, including semi-telescope types 20- to 22-lb. cartons 15-lb. cartons 12-oz. pre-snipped bags (retail) 10-lb. bag pre-snipped (foodservice) RPC 6419, 6420, 6423, 6425, 6426 yellow wax beans 30-lb. bushel hampers/crates 25 to 30-lb. cartons 15-lb. cartons

Grades
Snap beans U.S. fancy U.S. No. 1 U.S. combination U.S. No. 2 Shelled lima beans U.S. No. 1 U.S. combination U.S. No. 2

Handling
With the wide range of color shades available, color alone is not an indication of freeze damage. Look for russeting and other patterns of discoloration, especially on the tips. Snap/green beans Temperature: 40 to 45 F, 4.4 to 7 C Relative humidity: 95% Mist: lightly Typical shelf life: 4 to 5 days Ethylene-sensitive. Do not store or transport with commodities that produce ethylene. Highly sensitive to freezing injury. Susceptible to chilling injury. Damage sometimes is not apparent until the produce is returned to a higher temperature. Snap beans are subject to chill injury and russeting if held at temperatures below 40 F, 4.4 C. Damage may begin to show within three days. They also will become pitted and lose moisture rapidly. Snap bean containers should be stacked to allow maximum air circulation. To retain moisture content, wash beans before refrigeration. Lima beans Temperature: 37 to 41 F, 2.8 to 5 C Relative humidity: 95% Mist: lightly Typical shelf life: 4 to 5 days Susceptible to chilling injury. Damage sometimes is not apparent until the produce is returned to a higher temperature.