Raw Material
Commodity GroupPulses (dry beans/legumes)
Scientific NamePhaseolus lunatus
PerishabilityLow
Growing Conditions- Warm-season legume; frost-sensitive
- Yield and pod set sensitive to heat and water stress during flowering/pod formation
Main VarietiesSieva type (small-seeded), Lima type (large-seeded; Andean-derived), Baby lima (small-seeded market segment)
Consumption Forms- Cooked from dried (soaked and boiled)
- Processed/thermal-processed forms (e.g., canned or prepared foods using cooked lima beans)
Grading Factors- Moisture content (Codex reference moisture limits for beans under CXS 171-1989)
- Foreign/extraneous matter and filth (including insect-related impurities)
- Defects (broken/damaged/insect-damaged beans) and uniformity
Planting to HarvestApproximately 10–12 weeks from planting to harvest for some “baby” lima bean types under temperate field conditions (variety and environment dependent).
Market
Dried whole lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus) are a niche pulse traded as a shelf-stable legume, typically moving in bulk for repacking and food processing. Species-specific global production and trade statistics are often not separately reported in major public datasets, with lima beans commonly aggregated within broader “pulses/beans” groupings and HS 0713 dry-legume trade lines. Available references describe meaningful production in the United States, Madagascar, and Peru, alongside broader cultivation across parts of the Americas where the crop originated. Market dynamics are shaped by substitutability with other dry beans, strict tolerance for defects/foreign matter and insects in shipments, and sensitivity to post-harvest storage losses in warm climates.
Major Producing Countries- 미국Feedipedia cites the U.S. as the leading producer in 1995 (species-specific global statistics are often lacking/aggregated); research literature highlights Mid-Atlantic (e.g., Delaware) as an important production area.
- 마다가스카르Feedipedia lists Madagascar among notable producers in 1995; global reporting is often aggregated with other pulse crops.
- 페루Feedipedia lists Peru among notable producers in 1995; Peru is also part of the crop’s Andean center of diversity described in scientific references.
Supply Calendar- United States (Mid-Atlantic):Aug, Sep, OctTemperate warm-season production; literature notes late summer to early fall conditions are conducive to pod production. Dried form enables year-round shipment from storage.
Specification
Major VarietiesBaby lima (small-seeded; often marketed as butter beans), Sieva type (small-seeded variety group), Large-seeded lima type (Andean-derived)
Physical Attributes- Flat, broad/kidney-shaped seeds; traded as dried shelled beans
- Color ranges from pale green to white/cream depending on variety and processing
Compositional Metrics- Codex Standard for Certain Pulses provides maximum moisture levels for beans depending on climate/storage practice (e.g., 15% or 19% for beans) and notes different limits for pulses without seed coat
- Codex/FAO pulse guidance emphasizes limits on extraneous matter and the absence of living insects and filth that could pose a health hazard
- Lima beans produce cyanogenic glucosides (e.g., linamarin); proper soaking/cooking/processing reduces cyanide risk
Grades- Codex Standard for Certain Pulses (CXS 171-1989) is a common international reference for baseline quality/safety factors (moisture, extraneous matter, insects, contaminants) for traded pulses
Packaging- Bulk packaging and containers designed to safeguard hygienic and quality characteristics, consistent with Codex pulse guidance
- Moisture-protective packaging is emphasized to prevent quality loss and insect infestation during storage and transport
ProcessingTypically soaked and boiled for direct consumption; also used as an ingredient for prepared foods (e.g., canned/ready-meal applications) where thermal processing is applied
Risks
Storage Pests HighBruchids (pulse beetles/bean weevils such as Callosobruchus spp.) are widely recognized as major pests of stored pulses in tropical and subtropical regions; infestations can begin in the field and continue in storage, driving weight loss, quality degradation (holes/frass), and shipment rejection risk for insect presence or insect-derived filth.Use validated post-harvest IPM: rapid drying, sanitation, sieving/cleaning, hermetic or insect-tight storage, routine monitoring, and compliant fumigation/controlled treatments when needed.
Food Safety MediumInternational pulse trade is exposed to compliance risk on extraneous matter/filth, living insects, pesticide residues, and contaminants (e.g., heavy metals) covered under Codex standards and referenced by national regulations and buyer specifications.Implement supplier approval, HACCP-aligned controls, and routine testing/inspection against Codex-aligned specifications (moisture, extraneous matter, residues, contaminants).
Consumer Safety MediumLima beans contain cyanogenic glycosides (linamarin) that can release cyanide if beans are inadequately processed; risk is primarily associated with improper preparation rather than the dried trade form itself but can affect consumer guidance, labeling, and buyer requirements for ready-to-eat products.Ensure appropriate consumer instructions for dried beans and verify validated thermal processing controls for ready-to-eat or pre-cooked formats.
Sustainability- Post-harvest pest control (e.g., fumigation/insecticides) can raise residue management and environmental/worker-safety considerations
- Climate variability in warm-season production regions can increase yield volatility and elevate storage-pest pressure
Labor & Social- Worker health and safety considerations in post-harvest storage pest management where chemical insecticides/fumigants are used