Santa Clara County Fruit Exchange
| Business |
Dried Fruit Packer, Cooperative |
|---|---|
| Main Location |
San Jose |
| Active |
1892-1916 |
| Predecessors |
West Side Fruit Growers Association, East Side Fruit Growers Union, Berryessa Fruit Growers Union, Campbell Fruit Growers Union |
The Santa Clara County Fruit Exchange was a San Jose-based growers cooperative, started by Colonel Philo Hersey in 1892[1][2]. The Santa Clara Valley Fruit Exchange was the first cooperative dried fruit marketing association in the Santa Clara Valley and was particularly long-lived, lasting from 1892 to nearly the dawn of the California Prune and Apricot Growers (Sunsweet). The fruit exchange also swallowed up several other co-ops, including the East Side Fruit Growers Union, West Side Fruit Growers Association, Berryessa Fruit Growers Union, and Campbell Fruit Growers Union. The Fruit Exchange also banded together with other co-ops to form a common sales agency called the California Fruit Association[3]. Directors in 1902 included include Colonel Philo Hersey, C.F. WEyman, Noah G. Rogers, F.H. Babb, C.W. Childs, G.C. Grant, H.A. Bailey, O.H. Shelley, and J.A. Wetmore[4].
The organization disbanded in 1916 because of various problems, including farmers selling outside the co-op[5][6]. The Sunsweet Story states the Exchange didn't require anyone to sell to them, and growers were alternately annoyed when they didn't get paid upon delivery an when organization didn't hold fruit enough to get higher prices.
The Fruit Exchange shipped significant amounts of fruit - 140 cars to Philadelphia alone in 1900[7]
The Fruit Exchange also was memorable for its well-built, fireproof packing house on Sunol Street opposite what later became Del Monte's cannery. The large two-story brick structure, regardless of its fireproof design, burned in 1915 while leased to Rosenberg Brothers.
The packing house burned to the ground on August 4, 1915[8]. It had been rented by Rosenberg Brothers.
July 19, 1900 San Jose Evening News mentions safe-cracking at Standard Oil, "behind the warehouse of the Santa Clara County Fruit Exchange".
The Exchange was one of the fruit drop-off locations for the California Cured Fruit Association in 1900.
Locations
| Location | Years | Address | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Gatos | ? | ||
| Mountain View | ? | ||
| San Jose | 1896 - 1907 | Sunol Street north of Auzerais Street | 60 x 150 foot brick warehouse |
| Santa Clara | 1900 | ||
| Saratoga | ? |
Photos
References
- ↑ California State Board of Agriculture report in 1894
- ↑ July 16, 1892 Pacific Rural Press mentions the founding of the company, as well as the plans for a two story fireproof building.
- ↑ history of cooperatives
- ↑ May 3, 1902 San Jose Evening News article on annual meeting in the warehouse on Sunol St.
- ↑ June 15, 1923 Evening News : article on why exchange failed
- ↑ Jacobson, "Passing Farms". Notes Olson family members claiming members sold outside the co-op.
- ↑ Philadelphia Record of December 25, 1900
- ↑ August 7, 1915 San Jose Evening News report on fire in 1915