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Speed Up the Bean Soaking Process

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If you forgot to soak your beans the night before you plan to cook them, the hot soak method can come to the rescue. Cover the beans with water, bring to a boil and boil for three minutes. Remove them from the heat and let them soak in the hot water for an hour. Then drain, rinse, add fresh water and cook. It’s okay to let the beans soak longer if you don’t have time to cook them right away but be sure to put them in the refrigerator after they’ve soaked for an hour. Get more tips here.

northarvest bean day

Celebrate World Pulses Day

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February 10 is World Pulses Day, which celebrates pulses around the globe. As one of the most sustainable, nutritious and affordable foods worldwide, beans figure prominently in nearly all cultures. The U.S. Dry Bean Council has launched their World Pulses Day activities. Learn more here. Stay connected during the celebration by using #WorldPulsesDay and #LovePulses.

Teaching Children About Beans

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Helping children become familiar with beans can improve healthy food habits, according to an article published in the School Nutrition Magazine. Social studies classes offer a fun way to introduce children to the culinary aspects of beans by encouraging them to research traditional global dishes and by having students share their own family traditions using beans. In high school art classes, students can explore beans through botanical drawings. Germinating beans in wet paper towels is an easy science project for young children. Learn more.

Bean Promotional Campaigns Take Colombia by Storm

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A free trade agreement has made Colombia a market of potential for U.S. dry bean exports, as the U.S. is now price competitive. Support from the USDA FAS Emerging Market Program and Agricultural Trade Promotion Program has allowed the U.S. Dry Bean Council to launch several different marketing programs. The marketing programs are multi-media and run under two distinct campaigns, Todo con Frijol (Beans with Everything) and El Arte de Frijol – The Art of Beans. The campaigns include workshops, cooking demos, meetings with top Colombian chefs, recipe books and promotional video clips. Read more.

Dry Bean Scene

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The Northarvest Bean Growers Association is launching a new video, featuring farmers, processors and researchers to tell the story of dry edible beans and those who grow and consume them. Hear more about the video in the latest Dry Bean Scene on the Red River Farm Network, made possible by the Northarvest Bean Growers Association.

Wash It Out

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Reducing sodium can be as easy as swilling out your beans! Draining and rinsing canned beans can reduce their sodium content by more than 40 percent, but taking just a few extra minutes is key to getting the most benefit.
  • First, drain the beans in a colander for two minutes. 
  • Then rinse the beans under cool running water for 10 seconds.
  • Let them drain for another two minutes.
The reduced-sodium beans are ready to use in any favorite recipe. Check out the details here. 

Social Media Campaign Promotes Dry Beans in Turkey

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With support from the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service’s Agricultural Trade Promotion program, the U.S. Dry Bean Council kicked off a social media campaign in Turkey. The goal is to educate Turkish consumers about all dry bean classes grown in the United States and increase U.S. exports to Turkey. Although they consume dry beans virtually every day, few Turkish consumers know that the U.S. is a major supplier of dry beans.
 
The campaign features recipes and weekly meal plans on Facebook and Instagram, the two largest social media platforms in Turkey. A second component of the program is the creation of a Turkish-language website to provide consumers with information regarding the types of dry beans that the U.S. has to offer, as well as the health benefits.
 

Ag Day at the Capitol

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The Northarvest Bean Growers Association participated in Ag Day at the North Dakota State Capitol on Tuesday, March 19. This annual event recognizes the agricultural community by highlighting the crops and commodities produced in the state.
 
Megan Myrdal, director of domestic marketing and communications, represented Northarvest by showcasing a variety of products. Featured were Northarvest beans and visitors sampled bean chips with a pinto bean hummus. Click here for the recipe.