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USDBC Board Meets in Denver

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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.

Northarvest Elects New Slate of Officers

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The Northarvest Bean Growers Association has elected a new slate of Board of Director officers, as well as U.S. Dry Bean Council directors.

David Dickson of Gilby, North Dakota is the new Northarvest president. Previously, Dickson served as vice president, and also serves on the promotion, legislative, search, scholarship and communication committees. Dickson was first elected to the board in 2013.

Elected as vice president is Thomas Arnold of Appleton, Minnesota. Arnold serves on the Northarvest legislative, research and crop insurance committees. He was first elected to the board in 2014.

Eric Samuelson of Crookston, Minnesota was elected was the Northarvest treasurer. Samuelson was first elected to the board in 2015 and serves on the legislative and crop insurance committees.

Serving as the USDBC director is Kevin Regan of Webster, North Dakota. Regan was first elected in 2015, and with this assignment will represent the two-state region of Northarvest.

Roger Carignan of Cavalier, North Dakota is the USDBC alternate director, representing the two-state region of Northarvest. Carignan is currently the vice chair of the North Dakota Dry Bean Council and was first elected to the Council in 2013.