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Blue Lake Beans
Inventory, 25 lbs : 27.93
This item was last sold on : 12/07/23
Description/Taste
Blue Lake beans are slender, elongated pods, averaging 14 to 18 centimeters in length, and are generally straight, tapering slightly to pointed ends. The green pods are smooth, plump, firm, and stringless, encasing tiny pale green to white edible seeds. Blue Lake beans also have a crisp, succulent, and crunchy, snap-like consistency when raw with a fresh, green flavor. When cooked, the pods soften, developing a milder flavor with grassy, vegetal, and sweet undertones. It is important to note that Blue Lake beans can be found in both pole and bush varieties, and each type may differ in appearance and flavor. Pole Blue Lake beans will develop from vining plants that will reach 2 meters in height, while bush varieties will grow to approximately 45 centimeters in height.
Seasons/Availability
Blue Lake beans are available year-round.
Current Facts
Blue Lake beans, botanically classified as Phaseolus vulgaris ‘Blue Lake,’ are snap green beans belonging to the Fabaceae family. Blue Lake beans were named after the Blue Lake District in California, where the beans were first created, and are some of the most popular varieties in the United States. There are many different varieties of Blue Lake beans that have been selectively bred over time, and in modern-day seed catalogs, there are both bush and pole Blue Lake cultivars. The first Blue Lake beans developed in the early 20th century were primarily used for canning, but as breeding advancements were made, growing fibreless, crisp beans, Blue Lake beans became a favorite variety for fresh consumption. Blue Lake beans are regarded by gardeners to be one of the most flavorful green beans and are valued for their prolific nature. Among the many different cultivars, the signature Blue Lake bean variety is known in seed catalogs as Blue Lake 274.
Nutritional Value
Blue Lake beans are a good source of vitamin K to assist in faster wound healing, vitamin C to strengthen the immune system while reducing inflammation, fiber to stimulate the digestive tract, and vitamin A to maintain healthy organ functioning. The beans also contain potassium to balance fluid levels within the body and lower amounts of manganese, calcium, phosphorus, copper, and iron.
Applications
Blue Lake beans have a mild, fresh grassy flavor well suited for both raw and cooked applications such as steaming, sautéing, roasting, and stir-frying. The beans can be served whole, halved, or sliced and tossed into green salads, mixed into grain bowls, or simmered into curries, soups, and stews. Blue Lake beans can also be steamed or roasted and served as a side dish, stir-fried with other vegetables, incorporated into quiches, or cooked into creamy casseroles. In addition to fresh preparations, Blue Lake beans are popularly used in quick pickling recipes and canning. Blue Lake beans pair well with fresh herbs such as thyme, rosemary, tarragon, and basil, citrus, nuts, including walnuts, almonds, and pine nuts, raisins, cheeses such as cheddar, mozzarella, and gouda, tomatoes, mushrooms, potatoes, and summer squash. Unwashed, raw Blue Lake beans will keep up to 7 days when stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator’s crisper drawer. Cooked green beans will keep 3 to 5 days when stored in the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Blue Lake beans are one of the featured varieties showcased at the annual Green Bean Festival in Blairsville, Georgia. The celebration was established in the early 21st century in an effort to increase tourism, promote sustainable living between local farms and consumers, and create an educational event for both residents and visitors. Much of the festival occurs at the Union County farmers market, where vendors sell homemade baked items, canned goods, and fresh produce, including Blue Lake beans, while live bands contribute to a lively atmosphere. There is also a 5K run, beauty pageant, and green bean pizza-eating contest held throughout the weekend. One of the most interesting features of the festival is the community cannery located beside the festival grounds. The cannery was remodeled from a privately owned business to a community space where Blairsville residents can book appointments and bring their food items to safely can. Blue Lake beans are a popular canning variety and are often sold canned during the Green Bean Festival.
Geography/History
Blue Lake beans are descendants of ancient bean varieties that were originally native to Peru and were spread across the Americas through migrating peoples. Beans were cultivated in Native American tribes throughout North America, grown in the traditional crop system known as the three sisters, and many different bean varieties were created over time with improved characteristics. The first Blue Lake beans were produced in the early 1900s in the Blue Lake area near Ukiah, California. The original Blue Lake beans were slightly stringy but were the primary variety used for the canning industry. In 1923, the variety was brought to Oregon, where they were extensively researched and trialed for fresh use. Oregon breeders eventually developed new stringless Blue Lake bean varieties, and by 1952, there were over 10,000 acres dedicated to green beans in the state. The first commercial stringless Blue Lake bean variety was developed by the Asgrow Company in 1962, and in 1964, the Blue Lake 274 cultivar was released, one of the most popular Blue Lake beans in the modern-day. Today there are dozens of hybrids and sub-varieties that represent the original Blue Lake bean with better yields, disease resistance, and adaptability to various climates. Blue Lake beans are commercially produced through specialty growers and are sold through supermarkets and farmer’s markets. The beans are also a famous home garden variety in the United States and Australia, and the seeds are sold through online retailers worldwide.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
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Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Blue Lake Beans. One
is easiest, three is harder.
