Difference between revisions of "San Jose Fruit Packing"

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A San Francisco Call article from 1900 describes a fatal injury in the elevator of the Auzerais Street cannery<ref>Boy Meets Death in an Elevator: [http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cdnc/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&cl=search&d=SFC19000817.2.39&srpos=21&e=-------en--20--21--txt-IN-%22san+jose%22+cannery----# August 17, 1900 San Francisco Call]</ref>.
 
A San Francisco Call article from 1900 describes a fatal injury in the elevator of the Auzerais Street cannery<ref>Boy Meets Death in an Elevator: [http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cdnc/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&cl=search&d=SFC19000817.2.39&srpos=21&e=-------en--20--21--txt-IN-%22san+jose%22+cannery----# August 17, 1900 San Francisco Call]</ref>.
 
   
 
   
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U.S. Financial problems in 1894 caused the company to pack only 10% of their crop in 1892.  The company blamed unemployment in the east keeping workers from being able to afford their products<ref>Statement from San Jose Fruit Packing Co. over canned fruit tariffs.  In U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, [http://books.google.com/books?id=8jTPAAAAMAAJ&lpg=RA3-PA54&ots=PZS06JmRnM&dq=%22warren%20dried%20fruit%20company%22&pg=RA3-PA54#v=onepage&q=%22warren%20dried%20fruit%20company%22&f=false Replies to Tariff Inquiries, Schedule G., Agricultural Products and Provisions].</ref>  The company also could not borrow money that year.  The company noted that they employed from 200 to 900 people, and that 20% of their labor at the time was skilled.  Skilled labor paid $15 a week, ordinary labor, $5 to $12 for a 60 hour work week.  16% of their canned goods were exported.
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The company was a drop-off location for the California Cured Fruit Association in 1900<ref>San Francisco Call</ref>.
 
In 1899, the San Jose Fruit Packing company merged into the new [[California Fruit Canners Association]].
 
In 1899, the San Jose Fruit Packing company merged into the new [[California Fruit Canners Association]].
  

Revision as of 15:55, 22 July 2014

Summary
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[2]. Contemporary photos show wooden buildings surrounded by muddy ground, with a house-like structure visible[3]. A San Francisco Call article from 1900 describes a fatal injury in the elevator of the Auzerais Street cannery[4].

U.S. Financial problems in 1894 caused the company to pack only 10% of their crop in 1892. The company blamed unemployment in the east keeping workers from being able to afford their products[5] The company also could not borrow money that year. The company noted that they employed from 200 to 900 people, and that 20% of their labor at the time was skilled. Skilled labor paid $15 a week, ordinary labor, $5 to $12 for a 60 hour work week. 16% of their canned goods were exported.

The company was a drop-off location for the California Cured Fruit Association in 1900[6]. 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[7].

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

  1. Preservation San Jose, Del Monte Plant #3
  2. Sunshine Fruit and Flowers, Page 196.
  3. Sunshine Fruit and Flowers, page 196
  4. Boy Meets Death in an Elevator: August 17, 1900 San Francisco Call
  5. Statement from San Jose Fruit Packing Co. over canned fruit tariffs. In U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, Replies to Tariff Inquiries, Schedule G., Agricultural Products and Provisions.
  6. San Francisco Call
  7. San Jose Fruit Packing Company: Cannery Life: Del Monte in the Santa Clara Valley.