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Washington, DC Mission Support Page

Political decisions have a big impact on the agricultural industry from Farm Bill legislation to estate tax to child nutrition to marketing programs. The USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council is dedicated to addressing these issues, traveling to Washington DC several times a year with an extended, industry-wide mission in February to give voice to the needs of the dry pea, lentil, and chickpea industry in meetings with members of Congress and government agencies.

If you would like to be a part of this education effort, please contact the industry office. For more information on the policy stance of the dry pea, lentil, and chickpea industry, download our Policy Positions below.

Download the full presentation PDF by clicking the link below.

Download the full PPT Presentation (300mb) HERE

Some More Information about the USA Pulse Industry!

Pulse Crop Health Initiative (PCHI)

PCHI Document Cover As obesity, health, food insecurity, and nutrition problems continue to rise in the United States, there is an increasing need for food sources that combat those problems. Dry peas, beans, lentils, and chickpeas are packed with essential nutrients, and the Pulse Crop Health Initiative is a targeted effort to fund research on these crops to better utilize their powerful attributes.

"The PCHI was designed to accomplish three goals,” says Tim McGreevy, CEO of the USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council and the American Pulse Association. "The first goal is to address obesity and chronic disease in America, and through research on pulse crops we hope to offer solutions to address those major health issues.”

The second goal is to address global hunger and functionality, while the third goal is to increase the sustainability of agricultural production.

While preliminary research has shown how nutritious and healthy dry peas, lentils, and chickpeas are for people, it is merely the tip of the iceberg with a wealth of information waiting to be uncovered.

Interested in learning what the PCHI is going to accomplish? Download the pdf 2010 PCHI Executive Summary (861 KB) with all the key highlights, or get the entire pdf 76-page PCHI Strategic Plan (4.21 MB) .

USA Pulses Marketing Campaign

“Farmers on a Mission!” Pulse Promotion Campaign –USA Pulse Farmers are on a mission to help YOU eat more pulses!
“Just Add Pulses!” Half Cup Habit Campaign – The pulse industry has launched a new marketing campaign, encouraging consumers to “Just Add Pulses” to their diet in order to achieve the recommended 3 ½ cups of pulses consumed per week. Pulses have maintained strong markets with good prices in spite of a dramatic increase in acreage in the United States over the past three years. The goal of this campaign is to build demand with all health-conscious consumers in North America.
Pulse Brand Campaign – The pulse industry has created its own brand to help consumers identify products that contain pulses. This brand immediately indicates to consumers that the product is a healthy, nutritious, and sustainable choice. A strong marketing campaign will provide food manufacturers an incentive to use the pulse brand on their products, and help the industry promote pulses as the plant-based food of choice.
Functionality and Nutrition Research – An increase in research funding will provide a research legacy to support the development of new products and uses for pulse crops. Food products containing pulses are projected to increase in almost every category of food. Manufacturers and processors need additional scientific information about the function of pulse flours and ingredients, the differences created each year by location and variety, and definitive studies about the health benefits of pulses.

The 2016 International Year of Pulses was a huge success!

Pulse awareness and consumption of pulse crops in the United States is at an all-time high.
Over 1200 new products with your crops as ingredients have been released in the U.S.in 2016 and over 1100 in 2017.
The pulse industry has embarked on a Pulse Brand campaign, promoting your crops as the superfood that it is, competing with whole grains, quinoa, kale and other foods that pale in comparison to the health and nutrition, sustainability, affordability, and versatility of Pulse Crops.
This campaign has had over 3.44 billion media impressions with over 840,000 active users on social media in 2016, and our Half-Cup Habit: Just Add Pulses campaign has had over 2 billion impressions in 2017.