My farmers market customer Daniel Osborn stopped by the booth and was nice enough to bring back one of the prettiest and most unusual beans I've ever seen. I asked him to write what he knew and he sent this:

It was a pleasure talking with you a week ago. I hope you have success growing the tiny little beans we gave you. We bought them in the mercado in the small town of Ocosingo in Chiapas. It is about 30 miles from the city of San Cristobal de las Casas. It is still a very Mayan influenced area with, as you know, a lot of local varieties of many different cultivated plants. It is a fascinating place to explore, I'm sure you'll love it.

Several people have brought me beans from Chiapas and they seem to be quite distinct from other varieties found in Mexico. I've really got to go there and fill up my bags with beans.