Bring on the Beans

Did you know that Michigan is the second largest producer of dry shell beans in the United States?

Huron County in Michigan’s Thumb is one of the largest producers of black and cranberry beans. Delicious, affordable, and proteinpacked, beans are an excellent addition to school meals.

10 Cents a Meal is a statewide program that matches spending up to 10 cents per meal on Michigangrown fruits, vegetables, and dry beans in school and early childhood care settings. In the 2021-2022 school year, 257 grantees across the state participated in the state-funded program. Grantees purchased and served a wide variety of Michigan-grown foods, but only 9% of grantees purchased dry beans. By contrast, 92% of grantees purchased apples during the same year. Beans present a huge opportunity for growth within 10 Cents a Meal. With the per serving cost of less than 15¢, using 10 Cents grant funds on beans just makes sense!

From baked goods to soups to dips, dry beans can be easily featured in any meal of the day. Some popular recipes found on Healthy School Recipes, a website for school nutrition programs, include bean hummus, burrito bowls, chili, and bean salads.

Recently, a Michigan student at Whitehall Public Schools developed a creative bean muffin recipe that harnessed the protein power of navy beans as a key ingredient.

Get kids excited about beans

> Conduct interactive activities, like surveys or taste tests, with different bean varieties to find out their favorites.

> Show children how beans are grown by farmers and what they look like when dry.

> Highlight a new bean dish or menu in your food program.

Did you know?

During the 2021-2022 program year, Michigan kids tried sour cherries, candy cane beets, heirloom dragon tongue beans, fennel, clamshell mushrooms, rhubarb, saskatoon berries, and black radishes thanks to funding from 10 Cents a Meal.

Learn More about Michigan Beans

Michigan Bean Commission michiganbean.com

Bean Resources and More foodsystems.msu.edu/beans

10 Cents a Meal for Michigan's Kids and Farms tencentsmichigan.org

10 Cents a Meal

10 Cents a Meal for Michigan’s Kids and Farms is a state-funded program that matches what schools, childcare sites, and other non-school sponsors spend on Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables, and dry beans with grants multiplying annual meals served by 10 cents. According to invoices, last year grantees purchased more than 60 varieties of fruits, vegetables, and dry beans grown by over 175 farms in 42 counties.

Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems

The Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems engages the people of Michigan and beyond through applied research, education, and outreach to develop regionally integrated, sustainable food systems. Since the state-funded pilot program of 10 Cents a Meal began in 2016-2017, CRFS has evaluated the impact of the program on schools, kids, farms, and food businesses in Michigan.

10 Cents a Meal is administered by the Michigan Department of Education with support from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities, and MSU Center for Regional Food Systems.