Get to know

Orca

Overview

Tasting notes: Nutty • Sweet • Delicate

Grown by: Anthony Gonzalez, Columbia Basin, Washington

Harvested: October 2023

Practices: Minimal soil disturbance, cover crops, rotational grazing

Why we chose it

New to our lineup this year, Orca is earthy, creamy, and undeniably beautiful. As a Seattleite, Lesley has a soft spot for its Washington roots, but she’s equally drawn to the breeding story behind it - a testament to the ways beans adapt and thrive in different environments.

This Orca was officially released in 2003 through a collaboration between the USDA and Washington State University. Using traditional breeding methods, it was developed to flourish in the PNW, supporting on-farm crop diversity. While related varieties – known as Vaquita in Mexico or Calypso and Yin Yang in other parts of the US – may predate Orca, this particular bean has carved out its own distinctive identity.

We love simmering Orca as brothy beans, finished with a drizzle of our herb oil. It’s a simple yet decadent reminder that a little brightness can carry us through the darkest winter days.

The sourcing backstory

We met farmer Anthony Gonzalez through a longtime bean processor and bean seed company, Central Bean, based in Washington’s Columbia Basin. This region is renowned for its high-quality beans, with farmers relying on them for healthy soils and natural disease management. Anthony is newer to farming compared to the century-old operations surrounding him, but as a retired law enforcement officer, he has embraced his role as a steward of the land. Anthony takes pride in practicing rotational grazing with his cattle, allowing the animals to naturally enrich the soil the beans are grown in.