California Canners and Growers
| Business Details | |
|---|---|
| Primary Business | Cannery |
| Dates | 1958 - 1984 |
Summary
Apparently formed from [Filice and Perelli], Richmond Chast, Thornton Canning, and San Jose Canning. Merged into Tri-Valley Packing Association in 1984.
Locations
| Location | Years | Address | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | 1200 Harbor Way | ||
| San Jose | -~1970 | Lick Avenue | |
| San Jose | ~1970 | North of Diridon station, east of tracks. |
Photos
Photo of CalCan facility north of Diridon Station
Details
Cooperative, also known as "Cal Can" Took over [Filice and Perelli] in 1958, [Richmond Chase] in 1958. Took over Thornton Canning Company (near Stockton) around the same time. Took over [San Jose Canning Company]. Merged with Tri-Valley Packing Association in 1984. According to Jim Zetterquist, "Both companies were in trouble and the banks 'tossed a coin' over which company took over the other. All of Cal Cans local plants were shut down and sold off as scrap" Took over F.G. Wool in 1990 for their grower contracts (acc to one source) and brands according to Jim Zetterquist. Also took over S&W, Libby, etc. Declared Bankruptcy in 1983, sold Richmond Cannery. Subsidiaries were merged into parent company on June 1, 1963 according to Lodi News
[Richmond Chase] would have Burrell Chase as VP, Filice and Perreli, Peter M. Filice; Thornton Cannery, Dale G. Hollenbeck, Schuckl, George Coley. San Jose canning would be separate. They canned 500,000 tons of fruits and vegetables aseason. Got rid of separate names in April 1964 acc to
Modesto Bee Closed [San Jose Canning Company] site on Lick Ave in 1983 (San Jose Mercury News)
Company finally collapsed in 2000's for a host of reasons - changes in eating habits and wholesale purchases, problems with contracts, etc. Their implosion created a huge mess in the Central Valley; Modesto and Empire VP still annoyed that they messed up so badly.
Moved main canneries from San Jose to Modesto in the 1960's because of cost of sewage treatment and
Also See: History of company Reminder of amount of water needed by cannery: 3 million gallons a day of wastewater Joseph Perelli comments on buyout by CalCan.