San Jose Fruit Packing
| Business |
Cannery |
|---|---|
| Main Location |
San Jose |
| Successors |
California Fruit Canners Association |
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[1]. 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[2].
A San Francisco Call article from 1900 describes a fatal injury in the elevator of the Auzerais Street cannery[3].
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[4].
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
References
- ↑ Preservation San Jose, Del Monte Plant #3
- ↑ Sunshine Fruit and Flowers, page 196
- ↑ Boy Meets Death in an Elevator: August 17, 1900 San Francisco Call
- ↑ San Jose Fruit Packing Company: Cannery Life: Del Monte in the Santa Clara Valley.