Grandma Brown – beanmaker and philanthropist

Whether it’s a summer cookout or Thanksgiving dinner, Grandma Brown’s Beans has long been standard fare for many Upstaters.

Growing up, we had them often, heated in a pan, then slathered in ketchup. Or cold, slathered in ketchup. Never adulterated by brown sugar or bacon, refinements my family of six had no time for.

The beans are made by a family-owned company in Mexico, NY, east of Oswego. The enterprise traces its beginnings to just after the Depression, when Lulu Brown made pans of beans and sold them to local groceries. Demand grew, as did the business, which is now headed by Lulu’s granddaughter, Sandra Brown.

Natives who have left the area wax nostalgic for the beans – on a paper plate next to some salt potatoes and a Zweigle’s hot dog. Upstaters who have stayed felt the pain during recent shortages caused by the pandemic.

The company halted production last summer, but resumed before Thanksgiving. Cans are now back on the shelves at major supermarkets.

Grandma is also a philanthropist. The Grandma Brown Foundation awarded grants in 2018 to regional organizations such as Crouse Health, Syracuse Opera and Syracuse Stage, along with several scholarships.