10 Vintage Fruit Crate Labels That'd Make Anyone Move to SoCal

Everybody knows the story of California's first gold rush, but not everyone realizes that the state experienced a second -- and that time, the gold was literally growing on trees. By 1893, California's citrus industry was so successful that growers formed a cooperative (today, we know it as Sunkist Growers) to promote and sell their fruit. Marketing, of course, was critical, and fruit crate labels contributed by portraying the Golden State as a land of snow-capped mountains, sun-kissed valleys, and dramatic beaches. These images would make anyone want to move to SoCal, and plenty of people did. Today, L.A. is best known for entertainment and aeronautics, but make no mistake -- those thriving industries are living in the house that citrus built.

South Mountain oranges. Image courtesy LAPL Fruit Crate Label Collection

 

Loch Lomond oranges. Image courtesy LAPL Fruit Crate Label Collection

 

Santa Rosa lemons. Image courtesy LAPL Fruit Crate Label Collection

 

Summit citrus. Image courtesy LAPL Fruit Crate Label Collection

 

Evening Star lemons. Image courtesy LAPL Fruit Crate Label Collection

 

Sea Gull lemons. Image courtesy LAPL Fruit Crate Label Collection

 

Avenue citrus. Image courtesy LAPL Fruit Crate Label Collection

 

Valley View citrus. Image courtesy LAPL Fruit Crate Label Collection

 

Ocean Mist artichokes. Image courtesy LAPL Fruit Crate Label Collection

 

Shamrock oranges. Image courtesy LAPL Fruit Crate Label Collection