PINK BEANS (B85)

Pink Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are tan to rose-colored with a deep, meaty flavor. A widely available relative of the kidney bean, they are often called chili beans for their popularity in this dish. They are also popular in barbecue-style dishes, Caribbean cuisines and Mexican-American cooking. Pink Beans are sometimes called "Santa Maria pinquitos" after the Santa Maria Valley of California, where they are grown commercially and are an important component of the local barbecue fare. Pink Beans are a member of the larger family of legumes, a genre of plant species used for their edible seeds and pods, which boast a high nutrient density with low-maintenance production and storage. They contain high levels of protein, essential minerals and fiber while maintaining a low level of fats. Believed to have originated in Peru, beans were spread through trade throughout South and Central America, later being introduced to