Most historians agree that beans are probably native to ancient Peru. From there, they were no doubt introduced throughout the world by soldiers who carried them as a staple of their diet as they fought ancient wars.
The American bean story begins long before Columbus discovered America, with the American Indians as far south as Florida and as far north as the Red River Valley. In fact, maize, squash and beans were probably all cultivated in North America centuries before Columbus saw his first field of beans.
