July 14, 2021
With the harvest all but wrapped, CLERA shares its observations on beans that have arrived at processing plants.
The production of Argentine beans is in its final stage. With harvest wrapping up in the northernmost part of the growing area, a picture of the quality of the first arrivals at processing plants is now emerging.
In general terms, the severe drought during the months of April and May adversely impacted yields and caliber sizes, both of which are below average.
In the case of dark red kidney beans, yields are 25-30% below average and the caliber size of most of the crop is between 240 and 300 grains per 100 grams. The quality is optimal, with very good reaction to hydration and cooking, which makes the beans entirely suitable for the canning industry, the main market for Argentine dark red kidney beans. The situation is similar for light red kidney beans as well.
As for cranberry beans, yields were well below average, reducing the supply typically available from Argentina. Due to the drought, caliber sizes are below average as well, ranging from 220 to 330 grains per 100 grams. This is the case for most of the lots, although there are exceptions in areas where climate conditions were more benign. Presently, the availability of this bean variety is practically nil.
Similarly, black bean yields are also below average, and the sizes are smaller than what Argentina typically produces. Argentina usually offers grains processed on a 4 mm sieve. This campaign, most of the offer is of beans processed on sieves of 3.5 mm and even lower.
The alubia bean harvest developed differently depending on the area and sowing date. But with approximately 90% of the crop harvested, yields are consistently 20-30% below average. The natural bean average yield is 1,100 kg/ha. Caliber sizes were also smaller than normal. The general mean will be between 220-250 / 100, with very few beans larger than that. Across all batches, the observed quality was excellent, with very good grain fill, color, hydration and cooking consistency. The exportable supply is similar to last year. A significant percentage of the 2021 harvest was pre-sold with caliber size specs of 185-190 / 100 and 210 / 100, much larger than the sizes seen at processing plants.
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Argentina / CLERA / dark red kidney beans / light red kidney beans / cranberry beans / black beans / alubia beans
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