Buy the Beans

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Wednesday, September 10, 2008

At Rancho Gordo, Steve Sando has put his background in Web marketing to work: About 50 percent of his beans are sold online ( http://www.ranchogordo.com), 25 percent are sold to restaurants and a handful of retail stores, and the remaining beans are sold in the weekly farmers market in San Francisco's Ferry Plaza.

One-pound bags of any type of bean sell for $4.95. Sando also sells hot sauces, grains and imported spices and chilies.

Bean newbies might consider one of Rancho Gordo's sampler sets, which include beans, grains and spices. The Mexican/Latin Sampler, for example, includes posole (dried corn) and vaquero, tepary and pinto beans, plus Mexican oregano and canela, a spice that has a gentle cinnamon flavor. Sets are priced between $19.80 and $25.75. Shipping is a flat rate of $8 per order.