Where are the Cannellini Beans?

I have not been able to find these for weeks in our stores. An on line search, revealed that this is a problem all over the US. Here is what General Mills customer service had to say-


"General Mills Consumer Services Says:

November 3rd, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Thank you for your interest in our Progresso Cannellini Beans. As you may have noticed we have had a bit of problem recently with supplying our grocery chains with these great beans. Let me first apologize for that and to let you know what has happened. Due to a recent crop shortage we have been unable to keep up with production demands and that has led to the recent availability problems you are experiencing. The good news is we now have enough beans to start production once again. You should start seeing Progresso Cannellini Beans on your store shelves in early January. Go ahead and tell your store manager to put there order in now. Thanks again for your interest. Mike Grant, Progresso Brands Product Specialist, General Mills, Inc."

Interesting. I hadn't noticed a shortage, but we usually get the Strianese brand rather than Progresso.

I'll have to check the shelves next time I'm in a store.

Perhaps this explains why my favorite source of dried beans does not have cannellini this year ?

Yep, I tried to find dried Cannellini, as well, no luck. The explanation still does not devulge WHY there are no Cannellini's.
Does anyone know any inside infomation as to why there was a shortage? I noticed all the rest of the bean types are on the shelves. I also buy dried, from time to time and most seem to be available.

The prices of all beans in general have been markedly higher this year - I hadn't noticed a cannellini shortage but we're always well stocked with dried beans of all kinds here. And my father has enough cans of cannellini in his house to feed an army.

Our buyer told us that beans in general were higher because there were weather issues in some of the growing areas - maybe that's at the root of it.

Have you tried using small whites or great northerns instead?

Yes, John. The upside of the shortage is that you get to try other bean varieties. I've got a pound of Marrow, Christmas Limas, Good Mother Stollard
and others waiting in the pantry. I still like a good dish of simply dressed cannellini once in awhile.

John, yes I have those in my pantry, but I do like to keep the pantry well stocked and was out of Cannellini.
Christina, I like to do the same as you.....dress simply, and have a nice bowl for lunch.

Are you averse to mail order? If not, there's always Purcell Mountain Farms.

Mark Lipton

from a shopping trip today: