Phaseolus Bean or the common bean is the most important food legume for direct consumption in the world and is a major source of dietary protein in many developing countries. It is produced in a range of crop systems and environments in regions as diverse as Africa, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and United States as well as Canada and China. There are many different varieties of these bush or vine herbaceous annual plants producing a wide range of bean types, including Pinto, Kidney, Haricot, Navy and Mexican. The beans can be consumed by eating the fresh green pods but are more usually removed from the pods, dried and cooked.
Organization: Internation Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)
Author: A.L. Jones
Technical Editor: Danilo Mejía, FAO
Last Reviewed: 14/10/1999
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