Produce Crate Labels
from Digital Commonwealth
Prior to World War II, produce was packed in wooden crates with attractive labels, designed to catch the buyer's eye, pasted on the ends. After the onset of war, rationing, cost cutting, and a search for cheaper materials in every industry motivated the fruit packers to experiment with cardboard containers.
Since wooden crates were more labor intensive, and most available manpower was involved with the war effort, cardboard containers eventually prevailed. By the early 1950's, wooden crates had almost disappeared from the packing houses. The transition to cardboard containers left warehouses full of unused labels.
Georeferencing Progress
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Avenue Brand. Grown and packed by Victoria Avenue…
[ca. 1920–1929]
Fruit crate label showing a street lined in palm trees.
Homer Brand. Grown & packed by Orange Heights Ora…
[ca. 1930–1939]
Fruit crate label advertising Sunkist grade oranges showing a pigeon flying over a grassy, mountainous landscape.
Idyllwild. Grown and packed by Victoria Avenue Ci…
[ca. 1930–1939]
Fruit crate label advertising oranges showing a scene of orange groves and mountains within a diamond and one orange on each end.
Kiltie Brand. Grown & packed by Corona Foothill L…
[ca. 1930–1939]
Fruit crate label advertising grapefruits showing half a grapefruit on a plate with a spoon and a plaid background.
Lincoln Brand. Washington navels, grown and packe…
[ca. 1930–1939]
Fruit crate label advertising Sunkist grade oranges showing President Lincoln and two oranges on branches.
Princess Brand. Call Ranch grown & packed, Corona…
[ca. 1930–1939]
Fruit crate label advertising Sunkist grade oranges showing a princess within a rectangle and oranges on branches.
Red Circle. Packed by McDermont Fruit Company, Ri…
[ca. 1930–1939]
Fruit crate label advertising oranges showing an orange floating above a series of red circles.
Tartan Brand. Grown & packed by Corona Foothill L…
[ca. 1930–1939]
Fruit crate label advertising Sunkist grade grapefruits showing half a grapefruit on a plate with a spoon and a plaid background.
Tartan Brand. Grown & packed by Corona Foothill L…
[ca. 1930–1939]
Fruit crate label advertising Sunkist grade lemons showing a lemon on a plaid background.
Victoria Brand. Grown and packed on Arlington Hei…
[ca. 1930–1939]
Fruit crate label advertising Sunkist grade oranges showing Queen Victoria and two oranges on branches.
Bronco Brand. Packed by Redlands Foothill Groves,…
[ca. 1920–1929]
Fruit crate label showing a cowboy holding a lasso riding a horse.
Carefree Brand. Packed and shipped by Redlands Or…
[ca. 1940–1949]
Fruit crate label advertising oranges showing the face of a young woman.
Carro Amano Aranci. Gold Buckle Ass'n., East High…
[ca. 1920–1929]
Fruit crate label advertising oranges showing a man selling oranges to a woman from a wheeled cart.
Desert Bloom Brand. Desert grown grapefruit, pack…
[ca. 1930–1939]
Fruit crate label advertising Pure Gold grade grapefruit showing yucca plants in bloom and mountains.
Double A Brand. East Highlands California, packed…
[ca. 1930–1939]
Fruit crate label advertising Sunkist grade oranges showing a train crossing a bridge over a river with two large letter A's making up the supports.
Fancia Brand. Rialto Orange Co., Rialto, San Bern…
[ca. 1920–1929]
Fruit crate label advertising oranges showing a scene with trees and a lake within a semicircle and a man in colorful costume.
Full o' Juice. Redlands Orangedale Association, R…
[ca. 1930–1939]
Fruit crate label advertising oranges showing a peeled orange and glass of orange juice.
Gold Buckle Brand. Grown & packed by Gold Buckle …
[ca. 1930–1939]
Fruit crate label advertising Sunkist grade oranges showing a scene of orange groves and mountains encircled by a white belt with buckles and oranges…
Greenspot Brand. Gold Buckle Association, East Hi…
[ca. 1920–1929]
Fruit crate label advertising oranges showing an orange inside a green ring.
Pine Cone Brand. Grown and packed by Gold Buckle …
[ca. 1930–1939]
Fruit crate label advertising oranges showing a scene of orange groves and mountains superimposed onto a pine cone.
Polo Brand. Grown & packed by Gold Buckle Ass'n.,…
[ca. 1920–1929]
Fruit crate label advertising oranges showing a polo player on a horse.
Redlands Foothill Brand. Packed by Redlands Footh…
(c) 1927
Fruit crate label advertising Pure Gold grade oranges showing orange groves and mountains.
Royal Knight. Redlands Co-operative Fruit Associa…
(c) 1926
Fruit crate label advertising Sunkist grade oranges showing a knight on horseback and a castle.
Sunny Heights. Packed by Redlands Co-operative Fr…
[ca. 1930–1939]
Fruit crate label advertising Sunkist grade oranges showing orange groves and a tree and mountains.