Industry Overview
There are two types of dry beans that are grown in Saskatchewan: faba beans, and soybeans. Saskatchewan bean farmers seeded 51,000 hectares (126,000 acres) of soybeans in 2020, and 22,300 hectares (55,000 acres) of faba beans.
Once harvested, beans can be transported by semi-trucks to elevators to be stored, cleaned, and shipped. Beans can also be sent to processing facilities where they are prepared to be used in food for humans. Beans are usually left whole, but they can be dried and then packaged or canned. The products are then transported to grocery stores where they are purchased and enjoyed by people in a variety of food dishes.
Canada also exports beans. The countries that are importing beans include China, the United States, Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. The beans are taken from elevators on trains and put onto ships to transport to these international countries that buy Canadian grain.