Carman, MB – A six-foot tall kidney bean wearing sneakers and a baseball cap is now touring Manitoba with the message that pulses are good for people and good for the planet.
Kid Bean, the new mascot for Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers (MPSG), debuted on February 29 at events in Winnipeg and Winkler, MB. Over the next six months, Kid Bean and the MPSG Bean Team will meet with school kids and community groups throughout the province, as part of the 2016 International Year of Pulses.
“Consumers want food that is nutritious, healthy and environmentally sustainable,” says MPSG executive director Francois Labelle. “Pulse crops including beans, peas and lentils are the answer. With Kid Bean and a number of other initiatives, we are communicating that information to people of all ages.”
MPSG has also outlined a $50,000 program to reward deserving ideas that increase awareness or consumption of pulses. The Why Pulses? Challenge is open to all elementary and secondary schools, and non-profit community groups in Manitoba. Details can be found at www.manitobapulse.ca.
A new educational partnership with Ag in the Classroom (AITC) puts MPSG into schools this week in Winnipeg, Dauphin, Roblin, Winkler, Reston, Boissevain, Lauder and Morris.
“Education is key during the International Year of Pulses,” says Labelle, “and our collaboration with AITC-Manitoba is a wonderful way to deliver these important messages.”
Farmers grow approximately $100-million dollars of pulse crops each year in Manitoba, available in grocery stores in bulk form or in prepared foods including soups, snacks and flours. Pulses are high in protein, fibre and various vitamins, and have been linked to a decreased risk of heart attack and stroke.
To arrange a visit by Kid Bean, go to: www.manitobapulse.ca/kid-bean-and-the-bean-team/.
To see Kid Bean on CTV Television, click here!
About MPSG
MPSG represents 3,800 producers in Manitoba who grow soybeans, edible beans, peas, faba beans, lentils and chickpeas. Founded in 1984, MPSG’s mission is to provide production knowledge and market development through research, advocacy and collaboration.
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