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, Charles Wesley 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 the co-op didn't sell fruit immediately so they could get cash, and the next season annoyed because the co-op didn't hold on to fruit to get a higher price.
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