Ministry justifies importation of pinto beans

While the Ministry of Agriculture insists there is no shortage of red kidney beans, they have still ordered the importation of two hundred thousand pounds of pinto beans into the country for two reasons. Firstly, it is to ensure that there is an adequate supply of a suitable alternate and also to have available beans on the market that is reasonably priced in the wake of soaring prices of red kidney beans. This evening Acting Director of the Bureau of Standards, Jose Trejo, told News Five that Belizeans need not worry about the shortage of beans for the Christmas season.

Voice of Jose Trejo, Ag. Dir., Belize Bureau of Standards
“There is currently a situation with respect to the supply of red kidney beans which is mainly due, I believe, to speculation given that prices are somewhat high in terms of the domestic price schedule. The ministry, along with the minister of Agriculture, agreed to allow the importation of pinto beans into the country to help stabilise the price of red kidney beans. But it’s mainly due to speculation. There may be just one merchant who may perhaps feel that there’s a shortage of red kidney and the rippling effect of that is that word goes on to other merchants and whatever their stock is, they hold out on it and if they hold out on the stock, that automatically causes a pressure on price upwards.”

Trejo says the retail price of pinto beans per pound should be no higher than a dollar and forty-one cents.