San Jose Fruit Packing

Summary

Business	Cannery

The San Jose Fruit Packing Company was the first canner in San Jose, started in the mid-1870's, and the ancestor of Del Monte. The company was started by Dr. James M. Dawson who did early canning in San Jose. He first started canning in . an orchard near 21st and Julian, and later built the company's first official cannery at 5th and Julian in San Jose in 1874. The company canned 4,000 cases annually in 1874, and 25,000 in 1876. J.M Dawson left the company in the mid-1870's, but the company continued with his son, J.B. leading. J.M. Dawson later started another cannery under his own name.

The company constructed a new state-of-the-art cannery on 11 acres along the South Pacific Coast railroad tracks in 1891. The manager in 1890 was W.H. Wright, who also licensed a sealed jar for canning in glass. Contemporary photos show wooden buildings surrounded by muddy ground, with a house-like structure visible. A San Francisco Call article from 1900 describes a fatal injury in the elevator of the Auzerais Street cannery.

In 1899, the San Jose Fruit Packing company merged into the new California Fruit Canners Association.

History San Jose also summarized the history of the San Jose Fruit Packing company.

Locations

Location	Years	Address	Details
San Jose	1875-1892	North 5th Street between E. Julian and Street James
San Jose	1893 -1899	Auzerais Street	Often in directories as "San Carlos St. at narrow gauge"

Photos

San Jose Fruit Packing Company (precursor of Del Monte) Hstory San Jose