Cornell Dry Bean Collection – 2026 Harvest

Four Organic Dry Bean Varieties · 2026 Harvest · A Norwich Meadows Farm–Cornell University Collaboration · Dry and Shelled

Amira, Faruq, Yansoon, and Zubdeh are distinctive pole-bean varieties developed through a collaboration between Norwich Meadows Farm and Cornell University plant breeders. Each variety was selected for its flavor, texture, productivity, and ability to thrive on organic farms.

These certified organic beans were grown and carefully harvested on our farm in Norwich, New York. They have been fully dried and removed from their pods for convenient pantry storage. The package contains dry, shelled beans only—no pods are included.

All four varieties are from our 2026 harvest and are sold for cooking and eating—not for use as seeds or plants.

The Four Varieties

Amira (“Princess”)

Amira has a sweet, floral flavor and a smooth, creamy texture. The dry beans are tan with beautiful marbled brown markings.

Faruq (“Balance”)

Faruq offers a balanced flavor and texture that works beautifully in a wide range of dishes. The dry beans display marbled shades of tan and brown.

Yansoon (“Anise”)

Yansoon is a golden-brown bean with a mild, squash-like sweetness. When cooked, it produces a delicately anise-scented pot liquor worth saving and serving with the beans.

Zubdeh (“Butter”)

Zubdeh has a rich, buttery quality and creamy texture. Its brown dry beans produce a naturally viscous, deeply flavorful pot liquor when cooked.

How to Use These Dry Beans

These flavorful beans can be prepared simply or incorporated into soups, stews, braises, salads, grain dishes, and spreads. Their cooking liquid develops wonderful flavor and body, so consider serving it with the beans or saving it for soups and sauces.

• Serve with olive oil, herbs, and sea salt
• Add to soups, stews, and braises
• Toss with tomatoes, peppers, or seasonal greens
• Use in bean salads, grain bowls, or spreads
• Serve over toasted bread or alongside roasted vegetables
• Save the flavorful cooking liquid for soups and sauces

How to Prepare Them

Sort and rinse the dry beans before cooking. For a shorter cooking time and more even texture, cover them with plenty of water and soak overnight. Drain and rinse after soaking.

Cover the beans with fresh water or broth, bring to a boil, and then reduce the heat. Simmer gently until completely tender, generally 60–90 minutes depending on the variety, soaking time, and your preferred texture. Add more liquid as needed and season to taste.

The Story Behind the Beans

Norwich Meadows Farm’s Zaid Kurdieh and Cornell plant breeder Michael Mazourek began this project to develop flavorful pole beans suited to organic farms and high-tunnel production.

Beans help diversify high-tunnel rotations typically dominated by tomatoes and cucumbers. As legumes, they obtain nitrogen through their relationship with beneficial soil bacteria. Pole beans also use a tunnel’s vertical space and allow farmworkers to harvest while standing upright.

Zaid and Michael assembled a collection of favorite beans and spent several seasons selecting plants in Norwich Meadows Farm’s tunnels and Cornell’s fields and greenhouses. They looked for disease resistance, productivity, easy-to-pick pods, and exceptional cooking quality.

The beans were evaluated in both the field and Haifa’s kitchen, with support from Norwich Meadows Farm’s experienced Egyptian growers. Each variety received a distinctive name reflecting its character and connection to the farm.

Amira, Faruq, Yansoon, and Zubdeh were bred to serve the soil, farmers, farmworkers, cooks, and eaters—and, above all, to be delicious.

How to Store Them

Store these dry beans in an airtight container in a cool, dry, dark place. Proper storage protects them from moisture and helps preserve their flavor and quality.

Cooked beans may be refrigerated in their cooking liquid in a covered container for several days. For longer storage, allow them to cool completely and freeze them with enough cooking liquid to keep them moist.

These are certified organic, New York-grown dry beans for cooking and eating. They arrive fully shelled, with no pods included. We do not sell seeds or plants.