Bacon to baby food, Beech-Nut had a big local impact | The Daily Gazette
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Beech-Nut Nutrition Corporation, the world-famous baby food factory that operated in downtown Canajoharie for nearly 120 years, began its storied life in the village as the Imperial Packing Company in 1891, founded by entrepreneur Bartlett Arkell and two sets of brothers, Raymond and Walter Lipe, and John and David Zieley,
The plant’s express purpose at the time was to smoke Beech-Nut hams using a method employed by the Lipes’ father, Ephraim. As the business grew, Beech-Nut added a variety of products including chewing gum, coffee, and baby food.