2024 Speakers

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USDA Dry Bean Statistics

 Wilma Davis joined ERS in August 2020 as a vegetable and pulse market analyst in the Crops Branch, Market and Trade Economics Division—with her primary role coordinating the Vegetables and Pulses Outlook Report. Prior to joining ERS, she served as a Risk Management Specialist and Team Lead at the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA). She was responsible for managing, revising, and implementing agricultural risk management and crop insurance programs from 2006 to 2020 for various programs—such as Pulse Crop Revenue, California Citrus Tree, and the Quarantine Endorsement programs. While at RMA from 2008 – 2014, Wilma also served as an economist—responsible for researching, analyzing, and developing price election forecasts for various crops such as raisins, sugar beets, sugar cane, dry peas, lentils, macadamia trees, and apples. Prior to joining RMA, she served as an Agricultural Marketing Specialist at the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in the Storage Contract Branch, Bulk Commodities Division. Her primary role was team lead administering commodity storage contracts under the Sugar Storage Agreement and supporting the other lead specialist managing the Uniform Grain and Rice Storage Agreement. 

Wilma received her M.S. degree in Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics from The Ohio State University and B.S. degree in Agricultural Business from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

Pea and Lentil Report

Born and raised in the Seattle area, Andrew became a loyal alumnus of Washington State University in 2000, graduating with an Advertising/Marketing degree. As the President / G. M. for Spokane Seed Company, Andrew is responsible for all daily operations as well as all Domestic and International trading for the 116-year-old company. Spokane Seed Company prides itself on supreme processing that permits them to supply the largest and most recognized food companies in the world.

Andrew is a fourth-generation pulse trader with 23 years’ experience selling Peas, Lentils and Chickpeas. He is a very active member of the US Dry Pea and Lentils Council. Andrew serves on the board of the American Pule Association as well as Domestic Marketing Committee Chairman. In his spare time, he enjoys many outdoor activities and spending time with his wife and three sons.

International Markets

Raised in Montana, Sam migrated west to San Francisco in 1975 to finish college, starting in the bean industry in the fall of 1980, with Berger and Company. Over 40 years later, shorter and grumpier maybe, he is still in the industry. 

Currently is on the RMBDA board of directors, as well as the alternate to the USDBC for RMBDA, is also  on the board of the Colorado Bean Committee grower group.  He is regularly asked to speak on the world situation of dried beans to various grower groups, as well as regional, national bean associations and GPC panels. He has lived in Dubai and Peru during his tenure in the industry, and travels 75,000+ air miles each year evaluating crop conditions, touring foreign processing & packing facilities, attending food shows, and visiting foreign dried bean markets. 

After 36 years as an international trader of dried beans, Sam is currently employed by Jack’s Bean Company, a grower/processor group with 3 processing plants in North Dakota and Colorado. He also markets overseas for other cleaning facilities in three other states, as well as trades beans originating in other countries to long time customers in need of his knowledge and experience in the business.

Canadian Crop Report

Originally from Brandon, Manitoba, Landon graduated from the University of Regina with a bachelor’s in Business Administration, majoring in finance, and obtained certificates in Economics and local government authority. 

Landon is in his fourth year at Viterra, with the first two years spent on the oilseeds desk, managing the logistics while trading flax. Landon actively trades special crops including mustard, edible beans, and canary seed. 

Danny Raulerson is the new Executive Director of the US Dry Bean Council.  He is a 6th generation Floridian that has roots in US Agriculture dating back to the mid 1700's before the Revolutionary War.  He grew up in Southwest Florida working on various agriculture operations ranging from vegetable farms to citrus groves.  He also financed his college career by day-working on cattle ranches in South Florida.  He graduated from the University of Florida with two B.S. degrees in Agriculture majoring in Animal Science and Ag Operations Management, both specializing in production management.  His professional career began with the Florida Farm Bureau Federation in Ag Policy and Field Services.  Since then he has held positions in vegetable seed sales, and advocated for the specialty crop industry for the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association.  Danny also held the position of Bureau Chief of State Farmers Markets with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.  Prior to joining the USDBC, he was the Executive Director of the Cranberry Marketing Committee, a Federal Marketing Order representing the US cranberry industry. Danny continues to live in Florida and has two children, a son who is active military in the Army, and a daughter who is enlisted in the Florida Air National Guard.

Alejandro Leloir joined the U.S. Dry Bean Council in May 2019 where he serves as Regional Director for Central, South America, and the Caribbean, where he provides trade servicing, market analysis and supervises the promotional activities in Central, South America, and the Caribbean. 

Alejandro was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in a family with strong agricultural roots. He received his agriculture engineering degree from Buenos Aires University in 2013 and is currently pursuing an MBA in Agribusiness. At the beginning of his career, he was Production Manager at a large farming operation in Uruguay. After moving to Costa Rica, where he resides since 2016, he became the International Pulses Purchaser for the largest pulse importer in the country, where he was responsible for market analysis and global pulse purchases, originating from the main producing countries.  He is a strong believer that an increase in dry bean consumption would bring immense benefits to human nutrition and the environment while contributing to a diverse and tasty diet.