Mineral King Fruit Company

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Summary
Main Location

San Jose

The Mineral King Fruit Company was a California-based dried fruit grower and dryer, with headquarters in the Santa Clara valley, and orchards near Tulare and Visalia in the San Joaquin valley. The company was incorporated in 1891 by three San Jose men. At one time, they had the largest packing plant in the world[1] The company required a $7 per share assessment on shareholders in 1904[2].

In 1913, J. H. Henry was the president, with J. W. Macaulay secretary and manager. At the time, the company owned 300 acres of prune orchards and drying plant, and produced 750 tons of prunes in the previous year. At that time, Mineral King sold primarily through J. K. Armsby, and packed at Armsby's Visalia plant[3].

The company was also responsible for agricultural development around Visalia, and helped set up ditches and canals in the area. The company also built a new concrete warehouse in the San Joaquin valley in 1917[4].

See Also

History of prunes in the Southern San Joaquin Valley[5].

Locations

Location Years Address Details
San Jose 1906 49 South First Street
Visalia 1891[6]

References

  1. "The Sunsweet Story" mentions both the San Jose founders and the size of the packing house.
  2. April 7, 1904 Evening News
  3. 1913 California Fruit News
  4. Sunsweet Story
  5. 1920 article
  6. Eugene E. Menefee, History of Tulare and King Counties, California.