© March 2025, University of Vermont Extension 2024 Organic Dry Bean Variety Trial

Dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), a high-protein pulse crop, have been grown in the Northeast since the 1800’s. As the local food movement continues to diversify and expand, consumers are asking stores to carry more locally produced foods, and dry beans are no exception. Currently, the demand for locally sourced dry beans has far exceeded the supply. Farmers are also looking for high-value crops to diversify their rotations. Modern breeding efforts have expanded the market classes that can be direct harvested, lowering the barrier to entry by reducing the need for specialized equipment. Despite the growing interest, there has been little evaluation of alternative market classes, such as navy, small red, pinto, yellow, and heirloom/specialty beans. These alternative market classes are valued by consumers for their culinary characteristics and visual appeal. To support and expand organic dry bean production throughout the northeast, the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program initiated a research trial to evaluate thirty-one organic dry bean varieties from different market classes to identify varieties suitable for organic production in the Northeast.