The U.S. Dry Bean Council (USDBC) Board of Directors convened in-person in Denver, Colorado last week after over a year of virtual meetings. The board tackled a comprehensive list of critical association and programmatic issues over the course of one and a half days, including:
- Legislative priorities
- Beans in food aid
- Trade teams and trade shows in 2022
- Upcoming bean innovation showcase at Worlds of Flavor with the Culinary Institute of America (CIA)
- Dues and budgets for the coming year
- BeanCon22
- New critical initiatives regarding global MRLs and sustainability
Committee meetings and general sessions discussed several activities planned for the remainder of the year as travel begins to open back up as well as plans for 2022. Global travel for the remainder of 2021 remains limited with ANUGA the only major trade show planned in October.
Additionally, the board discussed USDBC’s debut participation in the WOF event taking place in Napa Valley in November 2021. This will be a showcase designed to target U.S. and global chefs and introduce them to the various flavor profiles of U.S dry beans and bean ingredients.
The trade team schedule for 2022 was finalized and applications will be sent out to the industry in the next week. The board also decided to forego an in-person reverse mission during the 2021 dry bean harvest and conduct another global harvest webinar, similar to 2020.
COVID continues to impact USDBC’s activities and plans but the agenda is busier than ever, and we look forward to a return to in-person events in late 2021 and in 2022.
Northarvest Bean Growers Association Directors Kevin Regan of Devils Lake, North Dakota and Roger Carignan of Cavalier, North Dakota attended the summer meeting. Regan serves as the USDBC secretary/treasurer.
