Building Global Bridges Through Beans — Northern Feed & Bean Hosts USDBC Reverse Trade Mission

Every year, leaders in the global dry bean market make a deliberate trip into the United States — not to sell, but to learn and buy. This event is known as the U.S. Dry Bean Council (USDBC) Reverse Trade Mission, or sometimes the Worldwide Reverse Trade Mission. Unlike traditional trade missions where U.S. companies travel abroad, a reverse trade mission brings foreign buyers, processors, importers, and government contacts directly to American soil.

The purpose is simple but powerful:
Showcase how U.S. beans are grown, handled, cleaned, processed, and delivered — and connect buyers with the people behind them.

What Happens During a Reverse Trade Mission?

Participants spend several days in key bean-producing regions touring farms, elevators, and processing facilities. They meet growers, exporters, food manufacturers, and logistics partners. They attend buyer–seller meetings hosted by USDBC and its partners. They ask questions, collect data, taste products, take samples — and most importantly — build relationships.

These reverse trade missions help foreign companies see firsthand why U.S. dry beans are among the world's most trusted:

• Transparent origin and food safety standards
• Consistency in grading and supply
• Forward contracts and predictable logistics
• Innovation in processing and packaging
• A culture of partnership, not just transactions

Northern Feed & Bean Is Proud to Be a Host

As one of the largest bean processors and exporters in the Mountain West, Northern Feed & Bean is proud to host USDBC delegations throughout the year. When international guests visit our facilities, we open the doors — and the conversation.

We tour our plant.
We tour fields.
We talk about crop quality, contract structures, cleaning specs, export timelines, and customer expectations.
We share meals. We answer candid questions. We listen.

Each visit is more than a stop on a schedule — it’s a relationship in the making. These days together often lead to years of repeat trade and trust, reducing uncertainty for both sides.

Why These Visits Matter

Global demand for high-quality beans is climbing. From protein diversification to food security to plant-based diets — beans are in the spotlight. For international buyers making long-term sourcing decisions, seeing is believing.

Reverse trade missions:

• Give buyers confidence to choose U.S. suppliers
• Help exporters understand customer needs abroad
• Strengthen U.S. agricultural reputation in global markets
• Put a face and handshake to future shipments

And there is something human at the center of it all — beans build bonds. The excitement during these visits is real. People light up talking about food traditions, new products, and new markets. You can feel it in the room: a common crop connecting very different parts of the world.

Looking Ahead

Northern Feed & Bean will continue to support USDBC’s work to grow American bean exports and deepen global partnerships. We are grateful to play a role in hosting these missions and showing the world what U.S. bean growers and processors can deliver.

Exports don’t start with paperwork — they start with people and trust.
Reverse trade missions create both.