United States Products

Summary

Business	Cannery
Main Location	San Jose, CA
Active	1922-
Brands	Countess

U.S. Products cannery, Race St., 1920's

Independent San Jose cannery from 1922 into the modern days. United States Products was a spinoff of Vlessing, a major Dutch conglomerate. USP was personally operated by D. C. Kok, president of Viessing, and his sons Albert and Dick, with William Neuroth, a former fruit buyer who helped organize the company, providing local talent. USP's production was probably intended for consumption in Europe (much like the Ainsley Cannery in Campbell was selling to England). USP apparently had a plant in Salem, Oregon at one point.

The main building itself was monolithic, large, and looming.

The company declared bankruptcy in 1943, and was leased to Schuckl Cannery and then to the Clapp Baby Food company in 1944 and 1945.

Carl Lovegren operated the cannery in in the late 1940's. In 1950, it transferred to Consolidated Grocers. It became part of Glorietta Foods in the late 1970's, then went to Tri-Valley Growers who shut the plant down and sold the land for development.

See also: "Leonard McKay's memories of working at USP

Locations

Location	Years	Address	Details
Salem	1945	1105 North Front Street
San Jose	1924, 1943, 1962	570 Race Street

Photos

U.S. Products staff

Details

Opened in 1922. Was operated by D.C. Kok and his sons Albert and Dick, president of Vlessing company from the Hague, Holland. "This company has food processing plants all across the world."

Seems to have existed elsewhere; mentioned in corporations dissolved in Massachusetts in 1927.

Had special "drying method" acc to July 31, 1922 Evening News article Ad in International Trade Developer (pg 1102), 1922: Address was: Vlessing & Co, Javastraat 1,The Hague (Holland) Importers of metals, phosphates, foodstuffs, machinery and motor cars, general merchandise, and agricultural implements.

Exporters of maca nroni, vermicelli, oatmeal, all dutch products.

Sole contractors for America for Caucasian Manganese and Manganese Peroxyd

Telegrams: BEM The Hague

Codes used: A.B.C., 5th Edition; Scott's, 10th Edition, Western Union, 5-letter edition.

Vlessing supposedly sold soviet oil U.S. Products went bankrupt in 1943, and leased the cannery to Schuckl that year acc. to 1944 case about whether the trustee was allowed to lease the cannery.

Statement about bankruptcy in June 5, 1943 edition of Evening News Bought by National Can in 1971 acc. to July 9, 1971 Modesto Bee article about farmer who no longer had outlet for his crop.

Sold to Consolidated Foods in 1972.

One quote says that Pacific Coast Producers bought the U.S. Products canneries when they closed.

Countess brand , USP brands, first applied for in 1922, renewed in 1943 as part of bankruptcy.

Taste Sealed trademark assumed by Tri-Valley Growers , used in 1955, renewed in 1995.

Listed as having a private apple house in 1962. "Three Star" also owned by U.S. Products, registered April 5, 1954 at Race Street address, last listed as owned by Tri-Valley Growers, 101 California Street

John C. Gordon photo of front, http://digitalcollections.sjlibrary.org/cdm/ref/collection/gordon/id/1337. attempt to burn cannery in December 1928, along with attractive employee

Member of trade group cp&g Death of William Neuroth, general manager of United States products Cannery, San Jose JNews, July 2, 1940 . He'd been a fruit buyer but later was associated with D. C. Kok Sr. in organization of United States Products corporation.

Across the street was the Kerosene club, a music and comedy venue where the Smothers Brothers got their start. Started in 1950's, was beatnik/jazz/ San Jose State student hangout.

January 19, 1951 NYT: "Canning Company Sold: Consolidated Grocers Acquires California Concern. CHICAGO, Jan 18, The Consolidated Grocers Corporation reported today the purchase of United States Products Corporation Ltd. San Jose Calif which is a canner of fruits and vegetables.

"Change in ownership was completed by acquisition of virtually all outstanding securities, principally owned by the Lawrence Investment Corporation and the estate of Carl N. Lovegren, present until his death on Nov. 1.

"Consolidated said the present executive group and personnel would be retained."

Consolidated Grocers also owned Rosenberg Brothers & Company

Lovegren was found dead in his car in a residential district of San Jose on Nov. 1, 1950 acc. to Deseret News Nov 2. 1950.

September 10, 1961 New York Times: "Paul V. Rea has been elected president of the United States Products Corporation, San Jose Calif. canning unit of the Consolidated Foods Corporation, it was announced. He succeeds the late Fred M. Drew. Mr. Rea was formerly executive vice president of United States Products."

August 28, 1943 San Jose News: Judge works in Cannery Leonard McKay, San Jose Inside worked as an office helper during the 1941 season, remembers college kids with hand trucks carting fruit around. Used class jars tinted green. Doudell trucking was a vendor (owed money in bankruptcy.)

Western Appliance warehouse on opposite side of street dates from cannery times.

Salem plant had been King's Products Company 1917-1927, Reid Murdock & Company from 1929 on, United States Producers from 1973 to 1975, and Truitt Brothers recently. ( Salem cannery history May not be same company.

photo photo