A dream deferred: Bean sales soar as shoppers seek nutrient-dense, plant-based & diet-friendly foods Five years after the United Nations celebrated 2016 as the International Year of Pulses to raise awareness of legumes’ nutritional value and sustainability, SPINS data shows sales of dried beans are skyrocketing as consumers look for more nutrient-dense and budget-friendly products in the wake of the ongoing pandemic. Sales of shelf stable vegetables, tomatoes, grains, canned beans and peanut butter also are on the rise and outperforming total product sales as the pandemic shifts consumer priorities to products that will sustain them between less frequent shopping trips, Kathryn Peters, executive vice president of business development at SPINS told attendees this week during New Hope Network’s Spark Change virtual Natural Products Expo.