RALEIGH, N.C., June 28, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is updating the fresh market beans insurance program to help producers in North Carolina meet production history requirements. 

“The Risk Management Agency (RMA) is responding to producer feedback regarding the eligibility requirements for fresh market beans,” said Alexander Sereno, Director of RMA’s Regional Office that covers North Carolina. “By reacting to feedback and adjusting our eligibility requirements, our program will better fit the state’s fresh market bean industry.” 

In North Carolina, fresh market bean producers were having trouble meeting the production history requirements to qualify for insurance. Beginning with the 2025 crop year, North Carolina producers can qualify for coverage if they have history of producing either fresh market beans or processing beans. In North Carolina, the same varieties can be grown for either the fresh market or the processing market. While the yields differ, due to differences in harvesting, the production methods are generally the same. RMA collaborated with local stakeholders to implement these program modifications. Now, a grower can shift from producing processing beans to fresh market beans, without a 4-year gap in insurance eligibility. 

The fresh market beans insurance program is a multi-peril actual production history (APH) coverage policy. In crop year 2024, producers insured $1.9 million in liabilities through fresh market beans coverage.

The sales closing date in North Carolina is March 15, 2025, for the 2025 crop year. 

More Information
Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at rma.usda.gov or by contacting your RMA Regional Office.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.  

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