What does EPA document about asbestos at the former Beech-Nut plant?
EPA reported extensive asbestos contamination at the former Beech-Nut Nutrition plant in Canajoharie, including outdoor debris piles following demolition activity.
Answer
EPA reported extensive asbestos contamination at the former Beech-Nut Nutrition plant in Canajoharie, including outdoor debris piles following demolition activity.
What the Beech-Nut plant meant in Canajoharie
The Canajoharie complex was a major food-manufacturing and packing operation with deep ties to the village. New York State Museum history traces the site to the Imperial Packing Company in 1891 and the Beech-Nut Packing Company in 1899. Over time the company produced ham and other packaged foods, chewing gum, peanut butter and, beginning in 1931, baby food.
The Arkell Museum preserves photographs, company scrapbooks, advertising and records of early factory life. Those materials can be important memory aids because workers may remember a product line, packing area, warehouse, boiler/utility area, expansion, advertisement or family member who worked at the plant rather than a formal building designation.
Beech-Nut Canajoharie — memory anchors
1891
The Imperial Packing Company began in Canajoharie, initially associated with canned ham and food packing.
1899
The enterprise was reorganized as the Beech-Nut Packing Company.
Early 1900s
The plant expanded and diversified into packaged foods, chewing gum, peanut butter and other consumer products.
1931
Beech-Nut began producing baby food in upstate New York.
2009–2011
The company announced the end of the long Canajoharie manufacturing era and shifted operations to a newer facility in nearby Montgomery County.
New York State Museum — Beech-Nut factory history → Arkell Museum / Canajoharie Library Beech-Nut archive →
What we can investigate from here
If you or a family member worked here, the approximate years, job, department, building or type of work can help us investigate further. You do not need to identify the asbestos product yourself.
Primary source
Government source record Primary government source