Local Legends: Grandma Brown’s Baked Beans

We’re rockin’ the support for local growers and producers this summer! We’ll be touring our Northeast region, highlighting local products and crops, talking to farmers and artisans, and telling stories on local legends. Join us on our journey! Next up, Grandma Brown’s Baked Beans from Mexico, New York.

In Upstate NY, Grandma Brown’s Baked Beans are a summer staple. The perfect side dish to your hot dog or chicken, it’s almost an expectation! Grandma Brown’s offers original, no nonsense beans; try adding ketchup and mustard, some brown sugar, caramelized onions, and a splash of soy sauce. That’s all it takes to experience the quality of these Oswego County gems.

Grandma Brown’s came about during the Great Depression when Lulu Brown began making large pans of baked beans and selling them in grocery stores. People loved them! So Lulu’s husband, Earl, and her son, Robert, decided to sell them in Oswego NY. Shortly after their start, Earl died, and Robert Whitley joined the company, which became known as Brown-Whitney-Brown, or BWB for short. BWB continued to grow, and soon required a plant where they could process and can the beans.