Usa Dry Pea & Lentil Council

What Usa Dry Pea & Lentil Council does

USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council, operating under the USA Pulses brand since a 2025 rebranding, is the national nonprofit trade association for the U.S. dry pea, lentil, chickpea, and dry bean industry. Founded in 1965 in Moscow, Idaho and incorporated in Idaho in 1988, the organization represents over 5,000 growers, processors, and exporters across the Northern Plains and Pacific Northwest. It operates as the unified national voice of the industry, bringing together state pulse crop commissions (Washington, Idaho, North Dakota, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska), the USA Pulses Trade Association, the Pulse Foundation, the American Pulse Association, and the Northarvest Bean Growers Association.

The organization's portfolio of products and services is structured around industry market development rather than proprietary technology. Core offerings include a Supplier Directory connecting domestic and international buyers with 152+ U.S. pulse suppliers; a Recipe Database with 666+ recipes; the Half Cup Habit consumer education program; the Pulses in Schools program for K-12 foodservice; chef and nutrition professional partnership programs; a comprehensive Technical Manual on pulse processing and applications; and ingredient innovation resources covering pulse flours, starches, fibers, and protein concentrates and isolates. The underlying platform is content- and event-based, with the inaugural USA Pulses Summit (2025, Spokane) generating $99 million in contracts across 30+ countries and a planned Pulses 2026 partnership in Orlando, Florida.

Revenue mechanics rely on three funding streams: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development grants for international market development; state check-off program remittances from member state commissions; and membership dues from the USA Pulses Trade Association and other member organizations. The go-to-market motion is hybrid: sales-led international trade development via regional International Marketing Representatives in 10+ markets (Mediterranean/North Africa, China, India, Southeast Asia, Mexico, Africa, Middle East, Vietnam, South America, Europe), event-led annual summits, and community-led domestic consumption promotion through chef, dietitian, and school channels. The organization is governed by a board representing member stakeholders and follows the standard U.S. agricultural check-off/trade-association structure.

Name

Usa Dry Pea & Lentil Council

Legal name

USA Pulses

Website

https://usapulses.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council (operating as USA Pulses) is a nonprofit trade association founded in 1965 that represents over 5,000 U.S. dry pea, lentil, chickpea, and dry bean growers, processors, and exporters, delivering market development, export promotion, and consumer education through USDA FAS partnerships and a global network of international marketing representatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Trade Association Services

NAICS

Dry Pea and Bean Farming (111130), Oilseed and Grain Farming (1111)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Pulses & Legumes Trading/Wholesale (AFAIAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Other Oilseed Farming (Flaxseed/Linseed, Safflower, Sesame, Mustard, Camelina, etc.) (AFAGABAI), Ethnic & International Foods Distribution (CRAOABAG)

Keywords

• Pulse industry advocacy
• Agricultural trade association
• International market development
• Pulse crop research
• Commodity export promotion

Headquarters

HQ city

Moscow

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. USDA-Funded Market Development Programs: USA Pulses receives funding through the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development program to conduct international market development activities, trade missions, and export promotion for U.S. pulse products.
2. Membership Dues and Check-off Programs: The organization is funded by member organizations including state check-off organizations (Washington Pulse Crop Commission, Idaho Pea and Lentil Commission, North Dakota Dry Pea and Lentil Council, Montana Pulse Crops Committee, South Dakota Pulse Crop Council, Nebraska Dry Pea and Lentil Commission), the USA Pulses Trade Association, and the Pulse Foundation.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

USA Pulses is a nonprofit trade association that promotes and protects the interests of U.S. dry pea, lentil, chickpea, and dry bean growers, processors, and exporters. It delivers international market development in partnership with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, coordinates industry research and policy advocacy, and runs consumer and professional education programs including chef partnerships, school foodservice resources, and dietitian outreach. The organization represents more than 5,000 industry stakeholders across the Northern Plains and Pacific Northwest and operates a global network of International Marketing Representatives.

Product overview

USA Pulses is a nonprofit agricultural marketing organization representing the U.S. dry pea, lentil, chickpea, and dry bean industry. Rather than a software product company, it offers a portfolio of industry programs and resources including: a Supplier Directory connecting buyers with pulse growers and exporters; a Recipe Database with 666+ recipes; consumer education programs like the Half Cup Habit; professional programs for chefs and nutritionists; an International Market Development service with USDA partnership; a Technical Manual and Research Innovation Program funding industry research; school foodservice resources; and membership in industry associations. The organization operates as a coalition bringing together state check-off organizations, grower groups, and trade associations to promote U.S. pulse consumption and production.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Supplier Directory
• Recipe Database
• Half Cup Habit Program
• Pulses in Schools Program
• Chef Partnership Program
• Nutrition Professional Resources
• Technical Manual
• International Market Development
• Research and Innovation Program
• Information and Government Policy Program
• Pulses for Healthy Pets
• Ingredient Innovation Resources
• Coalition for Advancement of Pulses (CAP)

Quantifiable outcome

• $99M in immediate and projected contracts generated from the 2025 USA Pulses Summit
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSA Pulses partners with USDA Foreign Agricultural Service to expand U.S. pulse exports worldwide. By working directly with FAS counselors, trade specialists, and overseas posts, they combine federal resources with industry expertise to create measurable market access gains, remove trade barriers, and deliver commercial outcomes that strengthen American agriculture.
• Coalition for the Advancement of Pulses (CAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAP is an initiative led by the American Pulse Association (APA) with support from USA Pulses, the Pulse Foundation, the U.S. Dry Bean Council (USDBC), and the U.S. Pea and Lentil Trade Association. The coalition is committed to increasing pulse consumption in the U.S. through research and awareness.
• American Pulse Association (APA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormed in 2010 in partnership with the U.S. Dry Bean Council, laying the foundation for coordinated health and nutrition research. APA leads the Coalition for Advancement of Pulses initiative and co-funds research with USA Pulses.
• U.S. Dry Bean Council (USDBC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the Coalition for Advancement of Pulses. Collaborates on health and nutrition research initiatives and international market development for dry beans.
• USA Pulses Trade Association (USAPTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in 1962 to represent and support those engaged in processing, merchandising, brokering, and warehousing dry peas, lentils, and chickpeas. Now includes food manufacturing, processing, transportation, ports, bagging, equipment, and other industry-related companies. Part of the unified USA Pulses framework.
• Pulse FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation supporting research, policy engagement, and market development for the pulse industry. Member of the Coalition for Advancement of Pulses.
• Global Pulse Confederation (GPC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSA Pulses partners with GPC for the Pulses 2026 conference in Orlando, Florida. USA Pulses hosts the USA Pulses Trade Summit alongside this landmark global event for the pulse industry.
• State Check-off OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSA Pulses unified framework includes: Washington Pulse Crop Commission, Idaho Pea and Lentil Commission, North Dakota Dry Pea and Lentil Council, Montana Pulse Crops Committee, South Dakota Pulse Crop Council, Nebraska Dry Pea and Lentil Commission, and Northern Pulse Growers Association.
• Northarvest Bean Growers AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresents the largest group of dry bean farmers in America. Joined USA Pulses framework in January 2026 to work together on research, promotion, and production of dry beans.
• Culinary Institute of AmericaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChef Barbara Alexander from the Culinary Institute of America partners with USA Pulses to showcase pulse versatility in professional cooking applications.
• D. McClellan, S.L. (Mediterranean/North Africa Representative)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational Marketing Representative covering Mediterranean and North Africa markets. Located in Barcelona, Spain. Facilitates trade connections and promotional activities in the region.
• QR Pvt Ltd (India Representative)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational Marketing Representative covering India market. Located in Gurugram, India. Facilitates trade connections and market development activities.
• P R Consultants Ltd (China Representative)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational Marketing Representatives (Virginia Chan, Irene Zhou) covering China market. Located in Hong Kong. Facilitates trade connections and promotional activities.
• Tim Welsh (Southeast Asia Representative)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational Marketing Representative covering Southeast Asia market. Located in Bangkok, Thailand. Facilitates trade connections and market development activities.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• U.S. Dry Bean Council: National trade association for U.S. dry bean growers and exporters; member of the Coalition for Advancement of Pulses alongside USA Pulses, sharing research and international market development responsibilities. Directly comparable as a pulse-commodity check-off/trade organization.
• American Pulse Association: Founded in 2010 with USA Pulses and the U.S. Dry Bean Council; leads the Coalition for Advancement of Pulses (CAP) and coordinates U.S. pulse nutrition research. Operates as a sibling research-focused trade body with overlapping membership.
• Northarvest Bean Growers Association: Largest U.S. dry bean grower group; joined the USA Pulses framework in January 2026. Functions as a regional pulse check-off association with comparable promotional, research, and grower-services activities.
• Pulse Canada: Canadian national pulse industry association and Canada's primary international pulse trade body; the leading competitive counterpart to USA Pulses in global export markets and structurally identical in mission, funding, and program mix.

Broad incumbents

• Global Pulse Confederation: International non-profit representing the global pulse industry; partners with USA Pulses on Pulses 2026 in Orlando and represents the broader worldwide pulse trade category, making it the global umbrella peer.
• U.S. Soybean Export Council: Comparable agricultural commodity export-promotion organization using USDA Foreign Agricultural Service co-funding, international marketing representatives, and global trade missions; structurally similar check-off/trade-promotion model applied to soybeans.
• USA Rice Federation: National trade association for the U.S. rice industry performing international market development, USDA partnership, domestic promotion, and policy advocacy — a direct structural analog to USA Pulses in another commodity category.
• U.S. Wheat Associates: U.S. wheat industry's international market development organization funded by USDA Foreign Agricultural Service and producer check-offs; operates overseas offices and trade-servicing programs analogous to USA Pulses' international representative network.
• American Peanut Council: National trade association for the U.S. peanut industry covering growers, shellers, and manufacturers; runs international market development, nutrition research, and consumer promotion similar in structure and funding mix to USA Pulses.
• National Potato Promotion Board: Federally authorized check-off program for U.S. potatoes conducting domestic and international marketing, nutrition research, and foodservice partnerships — shares the agricultural check-off/trade-promotion operating model with USA Pulses.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/usapulses
• Facebookfacebook.com/USADPLC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/usa-dry-pea-and-lentil-council

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Usa Dry Pea & Lentil Council