Edith Daley Cooperative Canneries article
CO-OPERATIVE CANNERIES IS MARVEL PLANT
By Edith Daley
July 16, 1919 San Jose Evening News
With sixteen acres of enterprise and capacity for 1000 employes the California Co-Operative Canneries is writing an interesting chapter in the history of the fruit industry's development in the Santa Clara Valley.
Modern equipment, managerial ability, adequate finances, and an ambitious program are recognized dynamic forces at this plant. John T. Bair of Hemet, California, is superintendent of all the Co-operative's industries. Vernon Campbell is general manager, S. E. Johnson of Cupertino, president, and Ralph W. Crary, vice president and sales manager. Of these directors Vernon Campbell and Ralph W. Crary especially have had years of practical experience.
"The co-operative cannery is an entirely different proposition from a purely commercial plant," explained Mr. Crary. "The commercial cannery will say to a grower, 'We don't want your fruit.' We say to every one of them, 'Bring it in!' Not only that, but we are ready to take care of all increases in acreage. In reality the psychology of the two methods of operation is as far apart as the poles. The principle in either case is entirely different. In the purely co-operative canneries the grower not only gets a good price for his fruit but by the elimination of the middleman he shares in the canning profit as well.
"The co-operative enterprise," continued Crary, "usually fails for lack of three things: managerial ability, finance, and distribution. We have all three if we may be allowed to modestly admit it. Our officers are men of standing, unquestioned ability and valuable experience. Finances are arranged for and the problem of distribution is solved. It is our aim under good leadership to so enlarge our capacity and distribution that we can put California canned products within the reach of everyone."
Last year at the time of the tomato pack the Co-operative began operations in the valley, completing a plant in 70 days that handled more than 10,000 tons of tomatoes. This year it was planned to prepare for the apricot season but before work on the extension of the cannery commenced the cherry growers announced that they wanted their crop taken care of. Then the Co-operative beat its last year's record. In just 65 days from the time a workman turned the first shovelful of dirt the sun-ripened apricots were hurrying at the urge of quick fingers and the speediest machinery obtainable from box to warehouse. One unique thing about this cannery is that it makes all its own machinery. When a mere matter of pulleys and wheels, of exhaust box or steam control loses its ambition it is retired and something newer and better takes its place. This is done under the able inventorship of Vernon Campbell or Ray Wilson. The present capping machine neatly puts the lid on 120 cans per minute. The capacity of cookers and the big rollers that slip their loads of shining cans into the cooling room is 600 to 700 cans per minute! The fireproof warehouse is a marvel of its kind-30,000 square feet of floor space and only 10 supporting posts!
Next year's output of tomatoes and fruit will be at least 600,000 cases. Next year's plans call for a combined total of the Tulare plant and this one aggregating 1,000,000 cases. Two other plants are to be in operation in 1920. Vice-president Crary reports that the labor situation is satisfactory, but that the plant will want over 200 more women employes when the peach pack begins. Quantities of peaches have been bought in the San Joaquin valley-what is known as the "Visalia Pool", and extra help will be needed to care for the tremendous output. Light, a cool factory, 40 well built cottages with bathing conveniences, a cafeteria, recreation rooms, nursery, capable matron and a graduate nurse in constant attendance are all inducements that solve the labor problem. The Canneries' clever ad beginning "O Girls! How would you like to spend a few weeks in cool San Jose and be paid for it," brought large numbers of women from the interior valleys. They are a happy, satisfied lot of folks-particularly the Italian workers who are so amazingly faithful, steady, and intelligent. The Co-operative Canneries is a remarkable institution. One comes away with a feeling that somehow the fact of having everything painted white - white that shows the dirt and MUST be kept clean - is pleasantly a part of their slogan: "Co-operation is cohesion without coercion."