From the Archives: Beans For Reforestation
In 1971, Garden Club of the Back Bay members were encouraged to buy a can of Big John Beans ‘N Fixins’ (Husband Pleasin’) at the Star Market or at the Stop & Shop. The ladies were told the beans could be eaten (no great enthusiasm there,) but in any event, they were to remove the label and bring it to the next meeting. The labels would then to be mailed to the Hunt-Wesson Company in the name of the Garden Club, and for each label returned, the Hunt Wesson Company would plant one tree as part of its reforestation plan.
In 1970, the “Bear Fire” destroyed 53,000 acres of forest in the San Bernardino Mountains. Children’s Forest was the vision of the USDA Forest Service and Hunt-Wesson, who partnered to reforest 3.400 acres of the burned area by planting trees in children’s names. The Rim of the World Interpretive Association built an interpretive trail on the land so that visitors could see the good work and enjoy The National Children’s Forest. Missouri’s Children’s Forest was another beneficiary of the project.
Hunt Wesson Company became part of ConAgra Foods and Big John’s Beans ‘N Fixin’s was discontinued as a product in 1996.
