About Us
The Bean Institute™ is owned and managed by the Northarvest Bean Growers Association, Frazee, MN.
Northarvest is a commodity check-off group representing the interests of nearly 3,000 producers of dry beans from the states of North Dakota and Minnesota. Northarvest is managed by a Board of producers and Executive Vice President, focusing on both production and marketing issues. The heartland of America forms the region we call “Northarvest”. Bounded by the green fields of America’s corn-belt on the south and the golden Canadian wheat fields on the north, Northarvest spans 112,000 square miles of fertile soil, or about 292,000 square kilometers. The Northarvest region includes all of North Dakota and Minnesota — an area larger than England, Scotland and Wales combined.
The Northarvest region produces a variety of dry beans in great abundance, thanks to the locally unique combination of very productive soil, abundant rainfall, warm summer days, and cold cleansing winters. Producers in this region have been growing beans for as many as three generations with pride and care, knowing that what they raise makes its way to virtually every table in America, and finds a home in more than 20 countries throughout the world, every year. Varieties typically grown include black beans, pinto beans, light and dark kidney beans, navy beans, small red beans and white beans, including the famous great northern.
The Bean Institute™ is one of many ways of sharing information on the nutritional components and health benefits of beans. The organization also sponsors an electronic newsletter available to dietitians. The Institute is overseen by an Editorial Manager and Editorial Board, the latter comprised of health experts from the Culinary Institute of America, the University of Colorado, PULSE Canada, and North Dakota State University.
Questions about Northarvest, or, the Bean Institute may be directed to the webmanager at: adamv@communiqueinc.com
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