Penniman Fruit Company

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Summary
Business

Dried Fruit Packer
Main Location

San Jose
Active

1893-

The Penniman Fruit Company was a dried fruit packer in San Jose. The company founder was Luther E. Penniman, Arthur Conley Penniman[1], and Geo. A. Penniman. Arthur Conley Penniman had 20 acre orchard in Willow Glen where he built a dryer. The company was listed as a fruit packer in 1893, and fruit dryer in 1896

The elder Penniman had been an immigrant from the east, driving a light wagon from the Missouri River to Placerville in 51 days. He also invented the "Ferris Wheel" style prune dryer, used in Watsonville for apples by Castle Brothers[2][3].

The company was starting a cannery in 1893[4].

Locations

Location Years Address Details
San Jose Willow St. Near Guadalupe River
San Jose 1896 Willow near Minnesota Avenue
Santa Maria 1893

References

  1. Arthur Conley Penniman
  2. California Dept of Agriculture circular
  3. Robert Couchman, The Sunsweet Story
  4. July 22 1893 Pacific Rural Press. "It takes more than hard times to scare the Penniman people."