Renee and Lesley Sykes, Primary Beans co-founders

We’re Lesley and Renee, the sisters behind Primary Beans.

The truth is, we’re obsessed with beans. We’re fifth-generation Arizonans from a small town on the Mexican border. Like any border town kids, we grew up around the culture and flavors of Northern Mexico. Early on, we developed a deep appreciation for beans and were the kids asking for “no rice, only beans please” at our favorite local restaurant.

Take a look at a typical grocery shelf and it’s likely you count the number of bean varieties on a single hand. But there are hundreds of varieties that serve as culinary staples across the globe, offering so much diversity in flavor, texture, and story. Beans are one the world’s longest-cultivated foods for good reason – they’re nutrient-dense, good-for-the-planet, delicious, and actually really easy to prepare.

We created Primary Beans to spread our obsession with beans, and to shed light on the incredible farming communities they come from. To us, sitting down with a homemade bowl of beans is a chance to deepen our connection to the food we eat, even (especially) on our busiest days. With over a dozen varieties and counting, it’s just the beginning of bringing the most flavorful beans we can find to your home kitchen.

“After spending 15 years working in agriculture and learning about the role that beans play in human and soil health, it became clear to me that beans are the perfect food. I started traveling in my mid-twenties, and with each trip, I fell in love with a new ingredient, agricultural region, or cooking technique. Beans were the common denominator. After cooking my way through as many beans as I could get my hands on, I knew I had to share the love.”
- Lesley

“I’ve worked in branding and design for nearly 10 years in cities from coast to coast. After assessing the world of pantry staples, it became clear to me that these ingredients are often an afterthought. For beans specifically, I found cooking instructions confusing with no transparency around sourcing— far from being in tune with today’s home cook. I knew there was an opportunity to uplift the humble bean.”
- Renee

Lesley and Renee Sykes, Primary Beans co-founders

We’re Lesley and Renee, the sisters behind Primary Beans.

The truth is, we’re obsessed with beans. We’re fifth-generation Arizonans from a small town on the Mexican border. Like any border town kids, we grew up around the culture and flavors of Northern Mexico. Early on, we developed a deep appreciation for beans and were the kids asking for “no rice, only beans please” at the local restaurant.

Take a look at a typical grocery shelf and it’s likely you count the number of bean varieties on a single hand. But there are hundreds of varieties that serve as culinary staples across the globe, offering so much diversity in flavor, texture, and story. Beans are one the world’s longest-cultivated foods for good reason – they’re nutrient-dense, good-for-the-planet, delicious, and actually really easy to prepare.

We created Primary Beans to spread our obsession with beans, and to shed light on the incredible farming communities they come from. To us, sitting down with a homemade bowl of beans is a chance to deepen our connection to the food we eat, even (especially) on our busiest days. With over a dozen varieties and counting, it’s just the beginning of bringing the most flavorful beans we can find to your home kitchen.

The PB experience

Our beans provide an opportunity for home cooks to not only expand their horizons in the kitchen, but also interact with our sourcing in a unique way. Through our Bean People membership, Pilot Project, and other initiatives, we’re bridging the gap between farmers and breeders with the people who enjoy their fruits of labor, and inviting them to more deeply engage in our food system.

find out more
Commodity beans vs single-origin beans

The Primary Beans experience

Our beans provide an opportunity for home cooks to not only expand their horizons in the kitchen, but also interact with our sourcing in a unique way. Through our Bean People membership, Pilot Project, and other initiatives, we’re bridging the gap between farmers and breeders with the people who enjoy their fruits of labor, and inviting them to more deeply engage in our food system.

find out more
Commodity beans vs single-origin beans

Single-origin for maximum flavor 

In a typical commodity supply chain, beans are combined, stored, and handled by various players, losing their origin, time of harvest, and unique flavor in the process. At Primary Beans, each variety comes directly from one of our farm partners and doesn't get mixed with beans from other sources. With harvest information on every bag, you’ll always know exactly how fresh your beans are. 

Heirloom and organic beans by Primary Beans

Rooted in ritual

We see beans as a vehicle to pay more attention to the food we eat, how it makes us feel, and how it connects us to those we love. We've been blown away by how much cooking beans has become an act of ritual and self-care for our community.

join our community

Rooted in ritual

We see beans as a vehicle to pay more attention to the food we eat, how it makes us feel, and how it connects us to those we love. We've been blown away by how much cooking beans has become an act of ritual and self-care for our community.

join our community

Inspiring kitchen confidence 

By sharing our method for quick, easy, and delicious beans every time, we’re building a community of cooks that trust their instinct as much as they trust any recipe.

our cooking guide
Shakshuka with Primary Beans Organic Chickpeas
Shakshuka recipe with Primary Beans Organic Chickpeas

Inspiring kitchen confidence

There are a million ways to cook beans, and countless cuisines to dive into. By showcasing the world’s long-standing way with beans and sharing easy-to-follow tips, we’re building a community of cooks that trusts their instinct as much as any recipe.

get the guide

Inspiring kitchen confidence 

By showcasing the world’s way with beans and sharing easy-to-follow bean cooking tips, we’re building a community of cooks that trust their instinct as much as any recipe. Your beans, your choice.

the cooking guide
Shakshuka with Primary Beans Organic Chickpeas

Inspiring kitchen confidence

By sharing our method for quick, easy, and delicious beans every time, we’re building a community of cooks that trust their instinct as much as any recipe.

our cooking guide

Our founding advisors

Karen Cichy

Research Geneticist, Dry Beans, US Department of Agriculture
Expertise: breeding, international beans, cooking qualities

Laura Edwards-Orr

Director of Institutional Impact, Center for Good Food Purchasing
Expertise: sourcing, impact, food systems

Jim Knutzon

Vice President, Food and Agriculture Division, SCS Global Services
Expertise: agriculture, supply chains, operations

Founders' picks

Primary Beans Ayocote Morado beans
Primary Beans Ayocote Morado beans
Ayocote Morado beans
Primary Beans Ayocote Morado beans
Primary Beans Ayocote Morado brothy beans
Primary Beans Ayocote Morado beans kitchen

Ayocote Morado beans

Primary Beans Mayocoba beans
Primary Beans Mayocoba beans
Primary Beans Mayocoba beans
Primary Beans brothy Mayocoba beans
Primary Beans Mayocoba beans nutrition
Primary Beans Mayocoba beans comparison

Mayocoba beans (previous harvest)

Primary Beans Organic Sangre de Toro beans
Primary Beans Organic Sangre de Toro beans
Primary Beans Organic Sangre de Toro beans
Primary Beans brothy Organic Sangre de Toro beans
Primary Beans Organic Sangre de Toro beans nutrition
Primary Beans Organic Sangre de Toro beans comparison

Sangre de Toro beans (organic)

Primary Beans organic Bayo beans
Primary Beans organic Bayo beans
Primary Beans Organic Bayo beans dried
Primary Beans organic Bayo beans
Primary Beans brothy Organic Bayo beans brothy
Primary Beans Organic Bayo beans nutrition
Primary Beans Organic Bayo Beans comparison

Bayo beans (organic)