Why are navy beans historically associated with U.S. Navy sailors rather than their color?

They served as a dietary staple for sailors due to their robust nutrition, affordability, and excellent shelf life.

The naming convention for navy beans is purely functional and historical, derived from their long-standing use as a primary food source for sailors in the United States Navy. This association stems from the bean's desirable properties for long-term storage and provisioning on ships: they offer significant nutritional density, are highly cost-effective, and possess an excellent shelf life necessary for maritime journeys. The name is not derived from the color of the bean itself, which is white, but rather from the service branch that relied heavily upon them as a core dietary component, ensuring sailors received essential sustenance even away from land.