response 50 of 52:

Jul 10 15:35 UTC 2007

SaveALot had about 20 different canned bean products, so let's look at
this picture:

Mexican workers migrate north to work in Michigan's bean fields during
the summer.  The beans are dried and canned.  They are shipped to Mexico
to be sold and then the familiar Mexican brands are shipped north to
feed Mexican migrants.

I find it intriguing that poor families buy more canned beans than dried
beans.  At least, SaveALot dedicates much more precious shelf space to
canned bean products than they do to dried beans, which means that there
is higher demand for them.  

In fact, I was amazed that an extreme-value grocery had that many
options.  Their profit model includes limiting choices (for example,
only 1 kind of flour, from one supplier, in one size).  

 I can see that time=money is an equation that factors in to the
decision process.  If you earn more per hour working than you save per
hour cooking, it is a *very* rational decision.  The money saved by
cooking beans is far less than minimum wage, or overtime during the
growing season.  (Notice that I'm assuming these folks are making at
least minimum wage).  

And, given the quest for People Chow, I suspect these buyers come home
at least as exhausted from a day of work as folks in air-conditioned
offices.

response 52 of 52:

Jul 22 11:16 UTC 2007

I've read about the kidney bean thing; i think i had a mild case of it
once (after soaking/cooking red ones at too low a temp).  My impression
is that a fair number of plants have chemical defenses against being
eaten, so best to know what you're doing before consuming them in large
quantities or prepared in unusual ways.