overview
The United States is the fifth-leading producer of dry edible beans, behind Brazil, India, China, and Burma. During 2000-2002, dry bean farm cash receipts averaged $449 million-11th among U.S. vegetables. Averaging 7.4 pounds per person during 2000-02, annual per capita use of dry beans was 1 percent higher than 1990-92 and 24 percent above 1980-82. North Dakota and Michigan account for nearly half of U.S. production. ERS analysis of dry beans covers supply, use, price, and international trade.

contents

• Background
• Trade
• Market Outlook
• Policy

features
U.S. Fresh Produce Markets: Marketing Channels, Trade Practices, and Retail Pricing Behavior synthesizes results of a multiphase project that examined the dynamics of produce markets, produce shipper-retailer relationships, and the relative market influence of producers, retailers, and consumers. In the past decade, retail consolidation, changing consumer demand, marketing practices, and new technology have transformed U.S. fresh fruit and vegetable markets. For additional information, see the ERS produce markets project page in the Food Market Structures briefing room.

Vegetables and Melons Outlook is an electronic report, issued every other month in newsletter format, featuring current intelligence and forecasts of changing conditions in the U.S. vegetable and melon sectors. Topics include production, consumption, prices, trade and more.

recommended readings
Dry Edible Beans presents the latest market situation and outlook for the U.S. dry bean market, including production, trade, and prices for major classes such as pinto and navy beans.

Dry Peas and Lentils presents the latest market situation and outlook for the U.S. dry pea and lentil market, including production, trade, and prices for major classes such as green peas and lentils.

India's Pulse Sector: Results of Field Research describes the market for chickpeas, pigeon peas, black matpe, mung beans, lentils, and dry peas in that country, paying particular attention to production and consumption patterns, marketing channels, and imports. Moreover, the United States' competitive position as a supplier to that market is described.

Will the Farm Act Get Pulses Racing? examined the prospects for pulse crops—dry peas, lentils, and small chickpeas—in the United States with passage of the 2002 Farm Act. Although relatively minor in acreage, supply, and use compared with corn, soybeans, and wheat, pulses could be poised for some expansion due to their eligibility for marketing loan benefits. Since the publication of the article, changes in farm legislation for these crops has further increased the attractiveness of planting pulses in 2003 and subsequent years.

See all recommended readings...

recommended data products
Dry Beans at a Glance provides data for 1999/2000-2004/05 on area, production, value, unit value, and trade for U.S. dry edible beans.

Dry Pea and Lentil Statistics include time-series tables describing dry pea and lentil markets, including U.S. acreage, yield, production, price, value, trade, and per capita use. Other tables contain data on world dry pea, lentil, and chickpea acreage, production, and trade.

U.S. Dry Bean Statistics, 1909-2003 includes more than 135 time-series tables describing dry bean markets, including acreage, yield, production, price, value, trade, and per capita use. It also contains State production series and information by class of bean.

Vegetables and Melons Yearbook provides over 140 tables in downloadable spreadsheet files (.xls) detailing 25 years of annual data. It includes 10 tables for U.S./State dry bean farm acreage, production, prices, crop value, imports and exports by class and country, and per capita use by class.

questions and answers
Why does USDA's Food Guide Pyramid put dry beans in the meat group? Find the answer to this and other dry bean questions.

related briefing rooms
Vegetables and melons
Tomatoes
Potatoes

related links
Other sites with economic information about dry bean markets.

maps and images gallery
View economic trends for dry bean markets.

for more information, contact: Gary Lucier
web administration: webadmin@ers.usda.gov
page updated: October 25, 2004