Difference between revisions of "Sunlit Fruit Company"

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'''Sunlit Fruit Company''' was a Berkeley-based canner known for its jams and jellies.  The company was known for packing in glass<ref>Sunlit Fruit Company advertisement: [http://books.google.com/books?id=OcOT3zked6oC&lpg=PA220&ots=iA9LlDuFUq&dq=%22sunlit%20fruit%22%20berkeley&pg=PA220#v=onepage&q=%22sunlit%20fruit%22%20berkeley&f=false Corona Club Cookbook] San Francisco, 1910.</ref>.  The company existed as early as 1906 according to an eBay advertisement listing.  The company expanded into a third building at 3rd and Dwight in 1917<ref>California Canneries: [http://books.google.com/books?id=CS0dAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA36&lpg=PA36&dq=%22sunlit+fruit+company%22&source=bl&ots=D2tz_N465k&sig=e8M1oYRDuhL_vYkd9Dgt48cw76M&hl=en&sa=X&ei=TyPyU5eEF8n4oATf-IGoCQ&ved=0CDQQ6AEwATgK#v=onepage&q=%22sunlit%20fruit%20company%22&f=false May 1917 Western Canner and Packer].  "General manager Thomas H. Fallon announces that the plant of the Sunlit Fruit Company on the Berkeley waterfront at Third and Dwight Way is being rushed to completion.  The plant will be large enough to double the output which means an increase of $1,000,000 in the pack.  Employment will be given to 300 more people than before."</ref>.
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'''Sunlit Fruit Company''' was a Berkeley-based canner known for its jams and jellies.  The company was known for packing in glass<ref>Sunlit Fruit Company advertisement: [http://books.google.com/books?id=OcOT3zked6oC&lpg=PA220&ots=iA9LlDuFUq&dq=%22sunlit%20fruit%22%20berkeley&pg=PA220#v=onepage&q=%22sunlit%20fruit%22%20berkeley&f=false Corona Club Cookbook] San Francisco, 1910.</ref>.  The company existed as early as 1906 according to an eBay advertisement listing.  Thomas H. Fallon was the general manager in 1917<ref>California Canneries: [http://books.google.com/books?id=CS0dAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA36&lpg=PA36&dq=%22sunlit+fruit+company%22&source=bl&ots=D2tz_N465k&sig=e8M1oYRDuhL_vYkd9Dgt48cw76M&hl=en&sa=X&ei=TyPyU5eEF8n4oATf-IGoCQ&ved=0CDQQ6AEwATgK#v=onepage&q=%22sunlit%20fruit%20company%22&f=false May 1917 Western Canner and Packer].</ref>; F. E. Laney was the superintendent in 1919<ref>Plea is Made for Bean Bags and Rag Dolls: [http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=alkiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oKcFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1172%2C4116835 July 17, 1919 Berkeley Daily Gazette].</ref>.
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The company expanded into a third building at 3rd and Dwight in 1917<ref>California Canneries: [http://books.google.com/books?id=CS0dAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA36&lpg=PA36&dq=%22sunlit+fruit+company%22&source=bl&ots=D2tz_N465k&sig=e8M1oYRDuhL_vYkd9Dgt48cw76M&hl=en&sa=X&ei=TyPyU5eEF8n4oATf-IGoCQ&ved=0CDQQ6AEwATgK#v=onepage&q=%22sunlit%20fruit%20company%22&f=false May 1917 Western Canner and Packer].  "General manager Thomas H. Fallon announces that the plant of the Sunlit Fruit Company on the Berkeley waterfront at Third and Dwight Way is being rushed to completion.  The plant will be large enough to double the output which means an increase of $1,000,000 in the pack.  Employment will be given to 300 more people than before."</ref>.
  
 
Sunlit in some cases made multi-year contracts with farmers.  A case in 1920 affirmed that these contracts were legal<ref>Violates Fruit Contract: [http://books.google.com/books?id=pfc9AQAAMAAJ&lpg=RA13-PA15&ots=BgcNaAcAdD&dq=%22sunlit%20fruit%22%20berkeley&pg=RA13-PA15#v=onepage&q=%22sunlit%20fruit%22%20berkeley&f=false December 22, 1922 Retail Grocers Advocate].</ref> Elmer Jackson, a Yuba City orchardist, signed a ten year contract with Sunlit to sell peaches at $25/ton from his 19 acre orchard.  He delivered the first year, but refused after that.  A petition for rehearing gives more details about the contracts, with Jackson's heirs claiming that the contracts were negotiated based on wartime controlled prices that could not cover costs<ref>Martha M. Jackson vs. Sunlit Fruit Company: [https://law.resource.org/pub/us/case/ca9/briefs/govuscourtsca9briefs1553/gov.uscourts.ca9.03771.b.05.pdf U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, Request for rehearing].  Case 3771.  Filed October 3, 1922.</ref>.
 
Sunlit in some cases made multi-year contracts with farmers.  A case in 1920 affirmed that these contracts were legal<ref>Violates Fruit Contract: [http://books.google.com/books?id=pfc9AQAAMAAJ&lpg=RA13-PA15&ots=BgcNaAcAdD&dq=%22sunlit%20fruit%22%20berkeley&pg=RA13-PA15#v=onepage&q=%22sunlit%20fruit%22%20berkeley&f=false December 22, 1922 Retail Grocers Advocate].</ref> Elmer Jackson, a Yuba City orchardist, signed a ten year contract with Sunlit to sell peaches at $25/ton from his 19 acre orchard.  He delivered the first year, but refused after that.  A petition for rehearing gives more details about the contracts, with Jackson's heirs claiming that the contracts were negotiated based on wartime controlled prices that could not cover costs<ref>Martha M. Jackson vs. Sunlit Fruit Company: [https://law.resource.org/pub/us/case/ca9/briefs/govuscourtsca9briefs1553/gov.uscourts.ca9.03771.b.05.pdf U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, Request for rehearing].  Case 3771.  Filed October 3, 1922.</ref>.

Revision as of 16:08, 18 August 2014

Summary
Main Location

Berkeley, CA
Active

-1920
Brands

Regent, Olympian, Academy, Alta[1] Atwater[2]
Successors

California Packing Corporation

Sunlit Fruit Company was a Berkeley-based canner known for its jams and jellies. The company was known for packing in glass[3]. The company existed as early as 1906 according to an eBay advertisement listing. Thomas H. Fallon was the general manager in 1917[4]; F. E. Laney was the superintendent in 1919[5].

The company expanded into a third building at 3rd and Dwight in 1917[6].

Sunlit in some cases made multi-year contracts with farmers. A case in 1920 affirmed that these contracts were legal[7] Elmer Jackson, a Yuba City orchardist, signed a ten year contract with Sunlit to sell peaches at $25/ton from his 19 acre orchard. He delivered the first year, but refused after that. A petition for rehearing gives more details about the contracts, with Jackson's heirs claiming that the contracts were negotiated based on wartime controlled prices that could not cover costs[8].

Sunlit was bought by Del Monte in 1920[9][10]. Some employees went to work for Virden Packing.

Locations

Location Years Address Details
Atwater 1920
West Berkeley 1920 2424 Fourth Street[11] Retained by Del Monte.

Photos

Photo: Warehouse. Oakland Public Library Fourth Street. Aaccording to caption on photo in Oakland Public Library Oakland Public Library

Photo: Bay shore at Berkeley via Bancroft Library.

References

  1. Patent logos. From Official Gazette of the U.S. Patent Office.
  2. Sweet potato label. thelabelman.com, 1910's. Sweet potatoes.
  3. Sunlit Fruit Company advertisement: Corona Club Cookbook San Francisco, 1910.
  4. California Canneries: May 1917 Western Canner and Packer.
  5. Plea is Made for Bean Bags and Rag Dolls: July 17, 1919 Berkeley Daily Gazette.
  6. California Canneries: May 1917 Western Canner and Packer. "General manager Thomas H. Fallon announces that the plant of the Sunlit Fruit Company on the Berkeley waterfront at Third and Dwight Way is being rushed to completion. The plant will be large enough to double the output which means an increase of $1,000,000 in the pack. Employment will be given to 300 more people than before."
  7. Violates Fruit Contract: December 22, 1922 Retail Grocers Advocate.
  8. Martha M. Jackson vs. Sunlit Fruit Company: U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, Request for rehearing. Case 3771. Filed October 3, 1922.
  9. California Packing Corporation, 1921 Moody's Guide
  10. Sunlit Fruit Company Acquired by Packing Corporation: January 31, 1920.
  11. Handbook of Manufacturers in and Around San Francisco, 1910, The Merchants Association of San Francisco.