June 4
Fruit Crate Labels
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What do Greyhounds and fruit have in common…fruit crate labels.
Fruit crate labels first appeared in the 1880s. The transcontinental railroad made it possible for California fruit growers to transport their product thousands of miles away and they needed an effective way to identify and advertise their product. They developed a wood shipping box about 12″ x 12″ x 27″ and used a brightly colored, attractively designed paper label on the box end. These labels became key to the growers’ national marketing strategy.
San Dimas Lemon Association
San Dimas is located 30 miles east of Los Angeles. The San Dimas Lemon Association was incorporated in 1900 and operated until 1963.
Growers and packers created their own labels. The images they chose related to their special interests or were designed to call attention to their product in the face of hundreds of competing brands. In the hands of a good artist and a talented graphic designer, the fruit box label became an elegant small poster, containing an easily understood and remembered message. The collaboration between fruit grower and commercial artist led to thousands of different label designs and a huge variety of subjects.
Indian Hill Citrus Association
Located in Claremont, California, Indian Hill Citrus Association was one of the associations that was involved in the start of the California Sunkist marketing system.
The use of the paper labels ended in the mid-1950s, when cardboard boxes with pre-printed labels came into circulation.
Source: McClelland, Gordon and Last, Jay T. Fruit Box Labels: An Illustrated Price Guide to Citrus Labels. Santa Ana, Calif.: Hillcrest Press, Inc., 1995.
T. Apkarian & Sons
T. Apkarian & Sons was located in Reedley, California, approximately 25 miles southeast of Fresno. Reedley dubs itself “The World’s Fruit Basket.”
It’s interesting that they chose a Greyhound rather than fruit.
It seems there was every imaginable subject used on these crate labels. It was fun looking for the Greyhound ones.
They chose the right model, didn’t they.
XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy
How interesting that they would name fruit Greyhound Brand. Or Bluehound! I love the labels, very vintage and beautifully done. I wouldn’t mind a crate with any of those labels on in my home 🙂
those are really lovely crates! I particularly like the first one
urban hounds
Very interesting!
Greyhounds are most stately and always handsome….
Hugs Madi and Mom
Well they are lovely, but I’m not so sure I get a marketing strategy that says “I know, lets use Greyhounds to advertise lemons” Hmmmmm! Deccy x
Wow, those are so cool. I love the colours and designs.
Lynne x
Maybe they chose the greyhound because they thought it might get the fruit delivered in a very speedy fashion:)
Woos – Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning
Wow, those are very cool.
I love the one with the lemons, that is really cool. Bloodhounds were used a lot in advertising I learned as well. I love having a breed of dog that you can find vintage items.
That is pretty interesting. I didn’t know this!
I love love love the greyhound!!! I have had 2 full blooded sight hounds and one part whippet hound Bambi. She is on my header. I miss my dogs!! Circle is doing a good job of helping me tho!!
Interesting blog!!! You are always intresting!!!
It seems like the greyhound makes a great model and muse. Thanks for sharing.
So cool! I need to share this with my sister who has a folk art business. 😊