Introduction to the First National Bean Fair
For the first time, Mexico is hosting a national fair dedicated to beans, an essential ingredient in its culinary history and the cornerstone of the milpa agricultural system. The First National Bean Fair is taking place at the Monument to the Revolution, from today until tomorrow, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The event brings together bean producers from Zacatecas, Durango, and Nayarit—states that account for the majority of Mexico’s bean production.
The Importance of Beans in Mexican Culture and Nutrition
During the presentation at Palacio Nacional, President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo and Agriculture Secretary María Luisa Albores emphasized the need to revalue this crucial grain, whose presence in the Mexican diet has dwindled despite its nutritional and cultural significance. Although Mexico hosts 57 of the 150 bean species registered worldwide, with 31 being endemic, consumption has dropped from 16 kilograms per person annually in 1980 to just 9 kilograms in 2021.
The Fair’s Objectives
The fair aims to showcase various bean varieties, cultural activities, and educational spaces that highlight the nutritional benefits of this grain. It also provides a direct connection with producer communities, allowing them to demonstrate their work around this key ingredient in Mexico’s food identity.
Albores highlighted that, beyond its gastronomic value, beans provide proteins, fiber, and vitamins, making them a strategic food for combating food insecurity.
Government Initiatives to Support Bean Producers
President Claudia Sheinbaum stressed that this fair is part of a broader policy to strengthen national production, advance towards food autonomy, and correct market inequalities. Currently, a producer receives around 13 pesos per kilogram, while retailers sell the same beans for between 35 and 40 pesos.
Through the Frijol del Bienestar program, the government aims to pay small producers 27 pesos per kilogram, process the beans, and distribute them directly in Bienestar Stores, ensuring a fair price for producers and affordable costs for Mexican families.
Sheinbaum also linked this fair to the “El Maíz es la Raíz” (Corn is the Root) program, which focuses on preserving native seeds and strengthening the milpa agricultural system that supports biodiversity, traditions, and ways of life. Beans, along with corn and squash, form the triad that has sustained Mexico for centuries.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the First National Bean Fair? It’s a two-day event at the Monument to the Revolution, celebrating bean producers and promoting bean consumption in Mexico.
- Why is this fair important? It aims to revalue beans, an essential ingredient in Mexican culture and nutrition, and strengthen national production.
- What are the government’s initiatives to support bean producers? The Frijol del Bienestar program aims to pay producers a fair price, process beans, and distribute them affordably through Bienestar Stores.
- How does this fair connect to other agricultural initiatives? The fair is linked to the “El Maíz es la Raíz” program, which focuses on preserving native seeds and strengthening the milpa agricultural system.
