December 30, 2008
Subject: CALIFORNIA CITRUS |
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| YEAR | MINIMUM WAGE | |
| 1920 | $0.33 per hour | |
| 1943 | $0.45 per hour | |
| 1952 | $0.75 per hour | |
| 1957 | $1.00 per hour | |
| MEDIAN | 1963 | $1.25 per hour |
| 1974 | $2.00 per hour | |
| 1980 | $3.10 per hour | |
| 1997 | $5.00 per hour | |
| 2008 | $8.00 per hour |
The introduction of the orange into California was through the coming of the padres in 1769. The laud of developing the first California orange orchard of any size goes to the San Gabriel Mission. In approximately 1804 they planted 400 seedling trees on six acres. It’s success was most important for it proved the climate and soil conditions of Southern California were suitable for citrus.
These two outstanding murals were painted in 1935 by Frank Bowers and Arthur Prunier for the Board Room of the Sunkist Building, dedicated on September 11, 1935, in Los Angeles. Today, both murals are in the Board Room of the Sherman Oaks Sunkist Growers, Inc. headquarters.
These works portrayed the introduction of the orange into early California by the Spanish padres and the following stage illustrates multiple generations of a family working together with neighbors to harvest the citrus gold.
Photos by Michael Pearlman
Distribution of commercial citrus sections in California: 1, coastal section; 2, interior valley section (2A, southern district; 2B, central district; 2C, northern district); 3, desert section. (Source: “The Citrus Industry”, Vol I., H. Webber & L. Batchelor, 1946, page 74) |
As mentioned earlier, in 1841 the first commercial venture in establishing the California citrus industry was undertaken by William Wolfskill. He secured the citrus trees from the San Gabriel Mission and planted two acres. His grove grew to seventy acres in Los Angeles between San Pedro and Alameda and extending from Third to Sixth Streets. In 1853 across from Wolfskill’s grove on Alameda, Matthew Keller planted a citrus orchard on part of his 70 acres, and another grove of citrus was planted by D. H. Bliss on Alameda facing Wolfskill’s property and north of Keller’s property. So from the devoted care given the 400 seedlings on the grounds of the mission, evolved over time, a majority coalition of California cooperative citrus growers who had accumulated by the season of 1945 - 46 a total of 312,600 bearing acres of all citrus varieties; and this amalgamation as a group made up the California citrus industry. This was the apex in California citrus acreage. At a glance of the map taken from “The Citrus Industry”, Vol I by H. Webber and L. Batchelor (1946, p.74) one can view the small citrus growing areas within California. What stands out are the vast areas which are not suitable to citriculture. From this observation one can really appreciate the aforementioned huge acreage of California citrus and the sizable, significant sum of $29,780,494,000 directly derived from the growing of citrus (even before the multiplier effect).
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For more
statistics to support this compelling story, please view the California Citrus Acreage,
California Citrus Production, and [dollar] Value of all California Citrus from 1920 to 2007 report at www.citrusroots.com and click on “Citrus Summaries”.
You can also purchase from our site citrus books, antique citrus crate labels, etc. or make a contribution.
We are a 501(c)(3) organization.
| Complements of : Citrus Roots - Preserving Citrus Heritage Foundation P.O. Box 4038 Balboa, CA 92661 www.citrusroots.com If you like this service…please let us know, and we are open to your suggestions.…. We would appreciate your financial support. |