Santa Clara Valley Growers Association

Summary

Business	Cannery
Main Location	San Jose, CA
Aliases	California Cooperative Canneries

Cannery, opened in 1919. June 1919 Western Canners and Growers noted the construction of the plant.

The organization appears to be intimately tied to the California Cooperative Canneries, and from them to Armour's attempts to break into the fruit business. The October 11, 1919 California Fruit News describes them as the grower association delivering fruit to California Co-operative Canneries. The article also mentions a lawsuit arguing the group isn't really a co-op, but instead just a front for Armour & Co.

The association sent a letter against the consent decree to the U.S. Attorney General in September, 1921 complaining that "fruit growers of this State have suffered extensively as a result of the Government destroying one of the best means of distribution of California's fruits." They also mention they have 300 growers in the association.

The April 2, 1919 San Jose Evening News includes an article about Vernon Campbell's conversation with growers where he explained the operation of the association. The Evening News was having none of that, asserting "this is the association which the Argmours have advanced $250,000 to build an immense cannery at the corner of Eighth and Taylor streets. In consideration for this favor the Armours are to have the cannery's output at the prices fixed by the California Packing Corporation... Campbell went on to say that the Armours recognized the co-operation idea had come to stay, and they were willing to work with the growers."

Locations

Location	Years	Address	Details
San Jose	1919-	Taylor Street between 8th and 10th

Details

June 1919 Western Canners and Growers construction details: "Construction of the cannery at Eighth and Taylor streets, San Jose, is under way. A crew of carpenters and machinists is at work on the machinery and equipment. The cutting, sorting, and packing tables are completed. Only a very small percentage of the fruit of the Santa Clara Valley can be handled this year and every grower of canning apricots, peaches, both cling and frees, pears and tomatoes should make an immediate decision. The management of the association would particularly be glad to have the growers come to the cannery, or if preferred, the field representative will call on the growers, who will telephone or write the Santa Clara Valley Growers' Association, Taylor Street, from Eighth to Tenth streets, San Jose Cal. Telephone San Jose 1004. "This season the San Jose plant can handle 2,000 tons of apricots, 1,000 tons of pears, and 3,000 tons of peaches."

March 6, 1920 Pacific Rural Press article on the success of the California Co-operative Canneries sign-up campaign.