the san joaquin historian · cherry producers gathered at the growers ... eventually it \yas...

$: The San Joaquin Historian · cherry producers gathered at the Growers ... Eventually it \yas decided the members should . fonn agreements with only a limited number of shippers. whose$
The San Joaquin Historian

A publication of the San Joaquin County

Historical Society amp Museum

Winter 1997

A historical prospective ofthe San Joaquin Cherry Growers

The above label was developed for the 1935 cherry season and with only minor changes was used until about 1985 The light notations along the top of the label encouraged uniformity of placement for the hand applied rubber stamps including Grower Variety and Grade

THE SAN JOAQUIN HISTORIAN

QUARTERLY JOURAL OF THE Volume XI Jew Series - Number 4 SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Winter 1997

Daryl JHorrison Editor

lJike Henry Production Editor

Published by THE SAN JOAQUIN COu~TY

HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC Micke Grove Regional Park

PO Box 30 Lodi CA 95241-0030

209-331-2055 bull 209-953-3460

Craig Rasmussen President Helen Trethewey President Elect Elise Austin Forbes Secretary Mel Wingett Finance Robert F McMaster Treasurer Christopher Engh Publications Gary Christopherson Past President

The Society a nonprofit corporation meets the fourth Monday at 700 pm in February April June September and November Membership includes subshyscriptions to the San Joaquin Historian and the monthly newsletter News and Notes Additional copies may be purchased at the Museum

The Society operates the San Joaquin County Hisshytorical Museum at Micke Grove Regional Park in partshynership with San Joaquin County The Society mainshytains an office at the Museum

Manuscripts relating to the history of San Joaquin County or the Delta will always be considered The edishytor reserves the right to edit and shorten material based on local interest and space considerations Inquiry should be made through the Museum office

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND MUSEUM

MICHAEL W BENNETT DIRECTOR

copy 1998 San Joaquin Historical Society Inc

This issue

Our author Howard Levis is a two-term pastshyPresident and past -Treasurer of the San Joaquin County Historical Society and needs little introshyduction to our members His article provides a detailed look at the San Joaquin Cherry Growers not only from a careflil review of the records but through his own personal dealings with the orgashynization as a Certified Public Accountant vith Lyman amp Keister

New Editorial Team

A nev editorial team takes on the San Joaquin Historiall vith this issue Please forgive the tarshydiness of our first learning issue Daryl Morrison is the new Editor She is Head of the Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections atthe University ofthe Pacific Library Interested in learning more about the countys hi story she welcomes a chance to read the many manuscripts that should be flooding into the office with the Winterspring rains

Mike Henry is the editor of the Lockeford Clements News He will be our Production Edishytor He brings many years of experience in jourshynalism and publication production work Hoping to divide and conquer the work we plan to bring you many interesting and lively issues

THE STORY OF THE

SAN JOAQUIN CHERRY GROWERS

CHAPTER ONE THE ORGANIZATION

The San Joaquin Cherry Growers organized as a cooperative on Februshyary 231935 was in the final stages

of liquidation as of November 1997 That could be the complete story-- but as one peeks through what might be considered sterile records glimpses of the original purposes and accomshyplishments of the organization become evident The leadership of certain unselfish individuals becomes clearly apparent during the desperate years of the Great Depression A closer look at the lives and accomplishments of those leaders during the early years of the sweet cherry industry in San Joaquin County provides a most important insight into an important segment of the agricultural economy

To understand the overall history of the San Joaquin Cherry Growers one must look back at the times and conditions in our country when the little cooperative was organized During the 1920s land leveling was just emerging as a way to make land more productive The equipment for drilling deep irrigation wells was gradually being improved as were the pumps to lift the water to the surface Land to the east of Stockshyton was gradually being put under irrigation The rich loam soils east of Stockton and Lodi which had produced oceans of cereal grains watered only by the natural rainfalls were now growing more valuable irrigated crops Producshytion of deciduous fruits and nuts which was but a trickle by 1900 was beginning to produce a flood in the marketplace Newer better varietshy

-By Howard Lewis

ies of fruits and nuts were reaching the available markets The American economy was booming

In October 1929 the great crash on Wall Street began to shrink peoples purchasing power The market for fresh fruits vegetables and nuts began to decline Traditional methods of marketing farm products soon fell in disarray As time passed brokers and shippers began to take advantage of growers and of each other A few of the more aggressive growers discovered outright dishonesty by some of the shippers The brokers and shippers who were honest evidenced their concerns about the future By 1933 the marketing of perishable fruits had become so disorganized that the small producshyers without established identities and outlets for their products became desperate

In those years as it still is today producers of perishable crops were often at the mercy of unscrupulous buyers who deliberately delayed and haggled for lower prices while the fruit began to spoil on the tree As a grower saw his years crop begin to spoil desperation spurred him to Herculean efforts to create better methshyods of marketing

It was in just such an atmosphere that local cherry producers gathered at the Growers Market on Wilson Way in Stockton on Wednesshyday December 19 1934 A small group of respected cherry producers had circulated among the growers encouraging attendance Soon an informal committee began to organize itself in an attempt to bring more order to the marketing of the highly perishable product

IWPUf

The group gradually evolved into an orgashynized committee of nineteen representatives from four geographic districts within the county They called themselves the San Joaquin Cherry Growers Their avowed purpose was to develop rules and standards and establish a marketing system that would attract as memshybers the producers of 85 of the Average Annual Tonnage of shipping cherries

Their mission was to accomplish several objectives especially as related to the adoption of standardized packaging~

bull Calex lugs [boxes] were to be used lor bulk cherries and the Campbell lug lor doublelaced Eastem shipments

bull Uniform descriptions 01cherry sizes rows per box varieties and similar stanshydards were to be adopted

bull A decorative paper curtain was to be used in the Campbell lug to render it more attractive to buyers

Top priority was given to the creation and adoption of a label to be applied to all shipping containers which would be recognizable by shippers buyers and consumers as an indication of the highest quality and source of production

When cherries became a 5ignijicant crop ill Sou

Joaquin County ollly the largest producers developed their marketing methods to

justify their own labels Fred Podesto Lucky

Ranch and Rugani Brothers were among them

Right Florence Solari Mitchell long-time Owner

ofSolaris Inn on Highway 26 east of Linden points

out the San Joaquin Clterry Growers label among tlte

many whiclt have decoUted her restaurant

liMJI

Ultimately after some experimentation and agreement among the growers the label SAN JOAQUIN CHERRY GROWERS was adopted in 1935 The label was recognized as a forward step and used by many growers As time passed some of the larger producers created their own labels as did some of the brokers and shippers By 1996 the label was no longer used An intensive search was undershytaken to locate an old label so a picture could accompany this story Finally an old label was located It hung as a decorative item with more than thirty labels on the wall at Solaris Inn at the Bellota Shopping Mall It was fitting to find the label on the wall of Solaris as for more than fifty years those valls have vitnessed hard bargaining Solari s Inn has been and still is a haven yhere growers brokers shippers and labor contractors make their deals during the heat of the various harvest seasons If they could speak the bar and the lunch counter could eloquently testify to what they overheard when the grovers and buyers were haggling

After a meeting in December 1934 the committee moved fast The Articles of Incorposhyration were filed on February 1935 More committees yere fonned and reported back Eventually it yas decided the members should

fonn agreements with only a limited number of shippers whose reputations would assure aggressive sales demand unifonnity of the product and help maintain a quality of pack Great care was taken to select only those whose integrity and cooperation had already been demonstrated After many meetings and intershyviews the Board of Directors approved Califorshynia Fruit Exchange and Lambert Marketing Company to be the official sales organization for member-produced cherries Nonmembers were allowed to use the marketing procedures and services but were restricted to less than 50 of total sales volume expressed in tons

By the meeting of April 1 1935 the Board received some bills including an attorneys invoice of$38720 from Gumpert amp Mazzera for preparing the incorporation papers Due to complaints regarding the amount of the bill Harry Mazzera offered to soften the blow He sent word that he would draw up a will and give free consultation in regard to any civil action for any member

Although the official minutes are silent about specifics they soon began referring to the finn of Rutherford Jacobs Cavalero and Dietrich as the attorneys for the organization At the same meeting the Directors authorized hiring a secretary to be paid at the rate of $300 per day

From the beginning the Directors exerted great efforts to force all growers to utilize the same label and standards as well as the offishycially approved marketing outlets A detailed reading of the minutes showed that some memshybers jumped ship and sent their fruit to other markets or used other brokers and shippers It appeared that some of the most visible members and officers occasionally failed to follow their own rules Leveling of fines expulsion of members and personal confrontations among the members were sometimes to no avail It seemed apparent that even though some of the members ignored the requirements there was

enough peer pressure and advantages to the unifonnity that the overall objectives were met A few of the largest producers had developed their own labels and organized their own marshyketing system but it appeared even those larger producers adopted the recommended packages and descriptions of the varieties and sizes Three of the largest producers Rugani Brothers Fred Podesto and Lucky Ranch were among the first to establish their own private labels and marketing channels In other respects however they followed the pattern established by the San Joaquin Cherry Growers

As the countrys economy improved fresh cherries in a good package sold well regardless of the marketing methodsused In later years especially after World War II with the greatly increased production and the competition from aggressive new sales organizations the desigshynated brokerage arrangement as originally planned became unworkable and was gradually abandoned By that time the associations label had become so well recognized that it continued in use for many more years

CHAPTER TWO BUSINESS SIDELIGHTS

The Articles of Incorporation and ByshyLaws provided that each prospective member was to be approved by the

Board of Directors and when approved the new member would pay a $100 which was treated as capital The minutes do not reflect any comprehensive plan for overall financing but a detailed reading demonstrated that from the very beginning boxes shook labels and curtains were sold with a sufficient mark up that a surplus (or profit) remained after the seasonal activities

Overhead for staff rent for storage areas and other demands soon brought about the need for a centralized staffed office and a shed so

WPlffJ

that year-round sales activities could be mainshytained During World War II the ability to cooperatively purchase scarce supplies and equipment soon converted the Cherry Growers into a significant retail farm-supply operation At the meeting of April 15 1939 Ray Armanino was employed at $150 per month with the provision that he vas to pay his OTI

automobile expenses At the same time shed space was leased from the San Joaquin rVlarketshying Association The shed area taken over by the San Joaquin Cherry Grovvers had formerly been occupied by Stockton Box Company a box manufacturer As a result the cooperati ve actually put itself into the box business by taking over the already-existing facility During the earlier years until vell after World War II it was customary to purchase box shook in large quantities and assemble the boxes of choice by the use of nailing machines Box production remained a major product line and sales volume until manufactured materials and different types of packages were adopted

By 1944 the cooperative began to expand its inventory of supplies to include a large selection of buckets ladders pruning equipment and shovels Soon the list expanded into fertilizers insecticides ammunition and guns Eventually home supplies such as toilet paper soaps olive oil and dog food were provided for sale Still later the cooperative purchased and rented fertilizer spreaders and other specialized equipshyment

Initially checks paid to Cherry Growers were never questioned as deductible business expenses

Sales of home supplies created a problem For income tax purposes the checks paid to Cherry Growers vere never questioned as deductible business expenses Occasionally revenue agents and auditors began to question and exclude items such as soaps dog food and paper goods For years dog food was routinely disallowed when identified by revenue agents

With the changing times dog food became a reasonable business expense Revenue agents recognized that every farmers dog is a trained watch dog necessary for the protection of life and property Today a revenue agent would no longer find challenging the deductibility of a farmers dog food a productive use of his time

As the inventory increased more working capital was needed especially during the preshyseason buildup of inventory Joe S Solari served as President during the first sixteen

Joe S Solari Sr ca 1960 Solari

provided mally years ofleadership

(IS Presidellt of the Cherry Growers

years He was recognized as a prominent and well-financed grower During those early years when additional money was needed by the cooperative Joe Solari would stroll across Wilson Way to the Bank of America and sign his name It was not until 1951 when the accounts were being audited that the paper trail revealed that Joe was borrowing on his personal name and allOving the Cherry Grovers to use the proceeds This personal commitment provides great testimony that in spite of the seeming informality of its operations the cooperative was actually run by a select group ohvell-meaning cherry growers vho saw to it that the cooperative was conducted honestly Complete integrity was expected from everyone

After World War II the financial manageshyment was tightened vith annual audits formalshyized financial statements and confirmed invenshytories More comprehensive and detailed record keeping was employed Members patronage was more accurately recorded and the patronage refunds were much more caretully supervised

A representative from the office of the corporations attorneys began attending the monthly meetings

The result of all of the influences recited in the preceding paragraphs transformed the San Joaquin Cherry Growers during the last 35 years of its existenee into a significant farm supply store providing diversified selections of merchandise to its members Sales were limited to members only therefore eredit was liberally extended The directors were generally avare of the financial capacity of eaeh member It was a rare instance when a non landowner was admitshyted to membership

An interesting aspect of reeent management was its giant step in modernization For many years the directors sat around the same table doing business as usual By 1990 the urgent need to modernize procedures vas recognized Certified Public Accountant Dan Kutley with the help of Pat McFarland recommended the use of computers Gradually computer proce-

Going on-line in 1993 created some lively discussions between directors staffand the supposed computer experts

dures were developed to simplify bookkeeping and to expand the information available to growers At the start of the fiscal year November 1 1993 the Cherry Growers went on-line in theory However the adaptation of the equipment softvare to the needs of the organization created many problems for the staff The old minutes and correspondence noted the heated discussions with the equipment providers and their staff They even called in independent assistance from specialists As the usual stresses were gradually overcome the bookkeeping inventories and purchases by each grower routinely became available Of particular benefit was the ability

to provide customers vith a history of their past usage of products and a detailed explanation of permits and warnings necessary for partieular chemical products used While computerization vas a great step forward it also gave an irksome but valuable education to everyone involved

CHAPTER THREE PERSONNEL AND THE PERSONALITIES

To see what makes the San Joaquin Cherry Growers story so unique one must take a closer look at the persons

who originally organized the group The proshyduction of cherries during the early 1930s was dominated by people of Italian heritage many of whom vere for the most part unschooled It appears that all meetings were conducted in English however the minutes record many instances where Lloyd Pezzi Joe Devencenzi and ED Botto explain our meeting in Italian Most of the growers farmed small acreages Consequently these small growers had no clout with produce sales organizations or shippers As the years passed their principal asset was their combined talents integrity and reputations The growers became known for their work ethic honesty and personal stability Eventually their reputations helped create an established Italian culture rhe younger generashytions that followed soon blended into the surshyrounding community

Labels became very important o early grmrers alld shippers in (he years ofthe cherry industry especially after the San Joaquin County Chert) Growers developed their label

tuI

ORIGINAL DIRECTORS District No 1 District No2 Linden BeIIota Fairchild amp Farmington amp Copperopollis Holden

1 G Garavano 11 Schenone 2 P Paoletti 2 J Croce 3 F Vallerino 3 J DeVencenzi 4 C Demartini 4 A Corradi 5 R Houston 5 S Dasso 6 V Vignolo

District No3 District No4 Lodi Machia amp Calaveras 1 G Adams 1 J Solari 2 C A Peterson 2 W H Leffler 3~R C Bridge 3 C Leale

4 G Sciutti 5EDBotto

Many names should be memorialized For instance the names are of the original nineteen directors on the day of incorporation and the districts they represented

Guy Adams and RC Bridge originally took the lead by acting as Chairman and Secretary Later Ray L Gerard took over as Secretary At the meeting of February 18 1935 Joe S Solari was elected President He provided leadership until his resignation on November 14 1950 On January 13 1948 the cooperative presented him with a gold watch

When the cooperative grew C F Schnake was hired as the first employed bookkeeper on the staff He was soon delegated to serve as corporation secretary His name appeared for the first time on May 21 1937 and continued until February 18 1946 It was noted that Lillie Rossi was hired to serve as bookkeeper and secretary at $300 per day - now that a new bookkeeping system has been installed

During the year 1937 Philip Cavalero was retained as the regular attorney By November

WInfl

1946 the unwieldy board of nineteen directors had been reduced to seven Robert L Pool now appeared on the records as Secretary The district areas remained the same and the reduced slate of directors were now

District 1 - F Vallerino G Garavano J Avansino

District 2 - AS Lagorio

District 3 - Guy Adams

District 4 - Joe S Solari L Luchetti Jr

Soon after the reorganization in 1935 a three-man Shed Committee began to serve (The precise date of authorization has not been found) Lloyd Pezzi and LD Lucchetti were apparently the first t70 appointees The names of both men appeared often in the minutes

At the meeting of January 13 1948 the name of Carlo J Giuffre appeared for the first time as Secretary The minutes of that day relay that Carlo had started January 1 1948 at a salary of $275 per month

Ray Armanino had served as Shed Manager since 1939 He was a popular manager but maintained a very low profile as he also helped California Spray Chemical Company deliver their products from the same shed used by the Cherry Growers Ray attended every directors meeting and opened and closed the premises It seems strange therefore that Ray s name never appeared in the minutes as an attendee

The official minutes could be described as a bare minimum accounting As one scans the minutes it soon becomes obvious that negative actions were not described Most votes were recorded as unanimous indicating matters were discussed until a consensus was reached Also over the sixty years there is no mention of firing

or terminating an employee As the last act of a meeting the minutes occasionally noted After the Secretary and Manager were excused the Directors held an Executive Sesshy

SlOn

Effective August 31 1950 Ray Armanino resigned to devote his full time to the spray business At their September 12 meeting the Directors confirmed the appointment of Rays brother Ernest Armanino to serve as Shed Manager at a rate of $350 per month At the same meeting the Directors hired Helmuth T Schmidt to be the Secretary -Treasurer also effective September 1 1950 at a salary of $300

At the next Annual Membership Meeting on the evening of November 21 1950 one of the most entertaining programs followed H T Schmidt by now affectionately known by the membership as Smitty went through the formality of a vocal roll call of the some 150 members present in the old GrOvers Hall Smitty tried to wrap his German-trained tongue around the long list of Italian names It soon became a great session of laughter for which Smitty in the many years that followed reshyceived much friendly kidding Smitty served long faithfully and with much distinction He was blessed with a good personality and a great sense of humor It was in late 1972 that Smitty submitted his resignation effective at the years end He left a long record of management stability and many friends at the Cherry Growshyers

Mrs Patricia Wilson was hired as Secretary-Bookkeeper in 1973 and bets were laid as to how long she would last

At the meeting of February 15 1973 the Board shocked the membership by hiring Mrs Patricia Wilson as Secretary-Bookkeeper to replace Smitty The members knew full well that Pat couldnt last long in such a lonely outpost The office was a cold shed dimly lit in

winter--hot and dusty in summer Rough language was not unusual and worst of all there were evening meetings out in the market area where no police or patrols were available Pat was eager for the job and the Board eventushyally said yes as no other likely candidate was standing in the wings The employment arshyrangement eventually became a great success

Pat Wilson soon dropped her married name to re-assume her maiden name of McFarland She proved herself not only capable to do the work but also able to control the office environshyment A few members and some of the directors later admitted that they had created a silent money pool Bets were placed estimating the number of days weeks or months until Pat vould walk off the job or get fired Many have wondered about the real truth of that wager

Pat excelled at her work grew into the job and soon began urging improvements and changes for better utilization of resources The conditions of her employment were further

but Pat won the admiration of members as being a no-nonsense office manager

complicated in 1977 After the death of Ernie Armanino Pat was alone in the office for almost a year until another manager could be recruited Pat became respected and admired as a noshynonsense office manager She served until 199611997 when the Board elected to close the doors and sell the business to Stanislaus Farm Supply The date of sale and her decision to retire happened to coincide

Actual management of the San Joaquin Cherry Growers was always vested in the Board of Directors who in tum delegated and inshystructed the Shed Manager Previous comments have referred to the first manager Ray Armanino and to his brother Ernest who served from September 1950 until his death in

IfU[I

1977 There followed Steve Clements Horace (Hy) Cadenhead and Greg Elliott each of whom served for short intervals Tom Gill worked several seasons in the shed then atshytended college and got his technical licenses Soon thereafter he returned to full time employshyment In 1985 he was made Shed Manager He served until November 1994 when other arshyrangements were made

Through the years the persons on the Board of Directors and the Shed Committee changed but some of the names remained the same-shyevidencing a generation change Of special interest -vas the Solari family Joe S Solari the original president was replaced on the board by his son Joe S Solari Jr Joe Jr who served almost twice as long as his father received a plaque to commemorate his service In 1994 history repeated itself when Joe S Solari Jr resigned so his son Joe S Solari III could become a director

Joe S Solari holding his son Joe

S Solari Jr Cll

1930 Joe Sr was one of

the most active cherry growers who

ill 1934 hepelf develop grower awareness and

worked to establish tlte Sail Joaquin Cherry Growers

Association His son amI grandson

also became directors

LD Louie Luchetti followed Joe Solari Sr as President and John V Vallerino followed Louie After Louie stepped aside it became policy for each president to serve a two-year term Thereafter the following directors served

as president Arnold Toso Silvio Canepa Ray Avansino Joe Solari Jr Richard Miller and Donald Ghiglieri Randy Rajkovich then took the presidency and continued until the sale was completed

There -vere several more instances where sons followed their fathers on the board When Angelo Lagorio died his son James took his place John A vansino was followed by his son Raymond Ray Camera was followed by his son Ray Jr While not followed by a family member Lloyd Pezzi contributed significantly to the management until his untimely death

As the years rolled by new names appeared at the directors table Each was a cherry groVer and their names were -vell known in the community Arnold Toso BA (Bocci) Podesto John Chiappi and Robert Lavaggi gradually replaced the old-timers In more recent years the names of Arboco Dasso F errarL Canepa Eilers Nishi Celli Garibaldi Ghiglieri Rajkovich and others appeared on the board

It is most significant that through those many years every director and shed committeeshyman served -vithout compensation of any kind Then for a very limited time a $2000 directors fee -vas paid to cover the four hours of each meeting and the mileage for attendance The dedication of the directors to the cherry industry and to their fellow growers was compensated mostly through their own personal satisfaction They knew that what they were doing was contributing stability and recognition to the industry from which each and everyone reshyceived their livelihood

The directors were extremely loyal to the professionals who served the organization Philip Cavalero whose name first officially appeared in the minutes of May 21 1937 enjoyed a fine reputation with the members He often used his native Italian Genovese dialect to explain matters As the years passed the

younger associates of the Cavalero fim1 proshyvided legal assistance The minutes faithfully recite names such as NOlman Shumvay tYlark Bray Allan Coon and Don Geiger as attending meetings It vas Don Geiger vvho guided the Cherry Growers through the protracted negotiashytions of the sale to Stanislaus Farm Supply and liquidation of the corporation

At the meeting of October 10 1939 the following vords appeared in the minutes c

Philip Cavalero was authorized to employ Lyman and Keister to audit the books and establish the status concerning Federal and State Income Tax Mr Keister provided sershyvices after 1937 His name frequently appeared in the minutes until 1947 when he introduced a member of his staff to serve the organization s needs It was vell known that Clarence T Keister had close friendships with those older original directors who had vorked to bring more stability to the cherry industry Howard C Lewis of the firm of Lyman and Keister supershyvised all accounting services after 1947 until his retirement in 1982

Annual meetings at the Growers Hall became known for little business and plenty oftime for visiting with friends Especially attractive were the catered dinners

It was 1939 when the Cherry Growers created their own problem The cherry season had been the usual hectic six weeks of intense effort to harvest pack and ship the crop The nailing and supplying of boxes had become a much larger activity Records and paper work had as usual failed to keep up The result vas money in the bank but very little agreement as to whom it belonged It was in that atmosphere that Clarence Keister vas called in to help solve the problems which then included the necessary reporting for income tax purposes

Dan Nutley on behalf of the accounting

tirm succeeded Howard Lewis in 1982 Dan assisted the directors through the more than ten years until the negotiations of the sale in 1996 and the final liquidation of the corporation

A welcome attraction for the members was the Annual Membership Meeting at Growers Hall The meeting was always abbreviated limited to the bare formalities of minutes reelection of directors from their respective districts and reading of the financial statements Members always waited for the tinal bottom line which told them the patronage dividends The anticipated once-a-year dividend was always expressed as a percentage of the gross dollar amount of their total purchases during that year The remainder of the formal meeting vas usually a harangue urging members to purchase more of their needs at their cooperashytive The real attraction and vhat drew the crowd was the catered dinner During the early years it was Gaia-Delucchi Company that catered hot ravioli and chicken cacciatore along with salad rolls cheese beer and vine After the dinner it was a great time for visiting and renewing friendships The younger generation often went dovn to middotmiddotChetsmiddot a popular bar on the street level of Growers Hall

Times have changed The condition of old Grovers Hall has deteriorated Chets is now closed-- a burned out shell of its former reputashytion where deals were made crops were bought and sold and good food was served In the heyday of the Growers Market Chef s began serving breakfast at 400 AM During each cherry season many times all day long the noise was near bedlam as brokers and shippers argued and made their deals each shouting louder than his competition Truckers and railroad agents vere also at Chets because thats where the action vas

The economy changed the traditional marketing had changed and so the San Joaquin Cherry Growers changed--by closing its doors A vonderful story of bygone achievements

I~J(I

would include the total history of the San Joaquin Market and the Italian Gardeners Society Stockton Cherry Briners and several other organizations The total facilities of the San Joaquin Marketing Association were the center of the early Italian culture of the commushynity The history of each would provide a wonderful story but those writings must await another day

More recently starting in 1991 the younger directors promoted an Annual Growers Appreshyciation Dinner The event apparently was a good idea that awakened members to the fact that unless they purchased through their coopshyerative there was no annual dinner or patronage dividend The event provided an evening out with their wives at a festively decorated locashytion open bar good dinner and music for dancing--a truly festive expression of thank you to those members who had patronized their cooperative After one of those dinners an interesting conversation occurred when a conshycerned member complained that he had not received an invitation The office pointedly reminded him that he had not made any purshychases during that year

CHAPTER FOUR CONCLUSION

As one looks back over the sixty years that the San Joaquin Cherry Growers operated its true value to

the Cherry Industry is not readily visible Many members viewed the organization as merely a store where routine needs could be met

To view the true worth of the organization one must look back to those formative years when the hysteria of the depression was in full sway and the marketing of perishable produce was in chaos An accurate evaluation requires a serious review of the influence of those admired and respected leaders who organized the cherry growers in December 1934 They stepped

IWNJfI

fonvard with ideas about standards of quality uniformity of packages and discipline among the shippers Above all they brought attention to marketing methods identifying the shippers and brokers vith stability who had the ability to sell effectively and vith financial integrity The record is clear that problems occurred along the way The leadership however showed the way and as the producers big and small used and improved the basic concepts the fresh cherry industry drev together The result was much improved stability in both local and Eastern markets

Perhaps one of the most lasting aspects of those years was the influence of those leaders to gain recognition respect and friendship for those of Italian heritage The years have demshyonstrated how they contributed so much to the productivity and economic success of their communities

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Howard C Lewis is a retired Certified Public Accountant and a native of Linden He is a 1941 graduate of COP (now UOP) and a lifeshytime resident of the Stockton area He grew up next to what was then one of the largest cherry orchards in the nation As a young man he had personal knowledge of the depression years and Howard C Lewis

the problems of marketing perishable crops

In August 1947 he was employed by the Public Accounting firm of Lyman amp Keister One of Howards first assignments was to work on the annual audit of the San Joaquin Cherry Growers Association Thereafter he worked on or supervised that audit until 1982 In that

capacity he attended many meetings of the Directors At each Annual Meeting he read the annual financial statements to the general membership He personally knew and was a friend to each Director as well as a majority of the members

One of Howards prized possessions is a silver champagne bucket presented to him at his last attendance at a Cherry Growers Directors meeting On it are inscribed the follmving words

Howard CLewis Thank Youfor Your ilIany Years of

Faithful and Outstanding Service 1947-1982 San Joaquin Cherry Growers

Howard is quick to explain that the only French champagne to ever be in the bucket was the bottle that came in it Since then it has cooled only the best brands of Italian spumante

Note on Sources

Most of the records of the San Joaquin Cherry Growers have been preserved including the minutes of the meetings before the actual incorporation and many are in the authors possession Information for this paper came from those records and the personal knowledge of the author It is hoped the most important of those records will eventually be donated to the San Joaquin County Museum

AN EVENING OF CLASSIC CINEMA Presented by the

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY FOX CALIFORNIA THEATRE

PROGRLM 730 PM

bull Overture amp Anthem by Oakland Paramount Organist Jim Riggs on the Mighty Rogers Theatre Organ

JUNE 20 1998

bull The Laurel and Hardy Classic Two Tars accompanied by Jim Riggs

bull Paradise ill Plaster --The History of the Fox California Theatre by noted theatre Historian Steve Levin

bull Old-fashioned sing-along bull Intennission with refreshments

PROGRAM 900 PM

Phantom ofthe Opera Accompanied by Jim Riggs on the Mighty Rogers Theatre Organ Original 1925 silent version starring Lon Chaney and Mary Philain

A benefitfor the Sap Joaquin County Historical Society amp Museum at tile Fox California Theatre 242 East JHaill Stockton For reservatiollS call tile museum office (If (209) 331-20550r (209) 953-3460

s35l1per person

I JtJ[jijl

Historical Society Presidents Since the Founding ofthe Museum Operation

Willard Robinson 54-55 (one-year terms) Gertrude Kettleman 55-56 Medora Johnson 57-59 Amy Boynton 59-60 60-61 Gladys Boynton 61-62 62-63 Emmett Perry 64-65 Hazel Pampel 65-66 Naomi Carey 66-68

A1useum established by agreement with County ofSan Joaquin

FA Mc Masters 68-69 Botanic garden planted

Robert Angiermeier 69-71 Micke Building constructed

Howard Letcher 71-72 Micke exhibits open blacksmith shop arrives from Nelson Ranch

Ed Pico 72-73 First Wildflower Shmr

Celia Myers 73-74 74-75 School house moved to museum Delta Building construction begins

Robert Bonta 75-76 Delta Building completed trickson Building started

Vivian Hughes 76-77 Harness Shop constructed Sunshine Trail construction started

Robert Bonta 77-78 78-79 Tree and Vine Building and Walled Garden constructed

Dorothy Hays 79-80 80-81 lvuseum accredited by AAJ Golden A10untain exhibit opens

Olive Davis 81-8282-83 A1useum Exhibil and Restoration Shop constructed Walled Garden opened

Jim Beardsley 83-84 84-85 Tree and Vine Exhibits open Helen Weber Kennedy Galle STarted

Hmvard Levvis 85-86 Helen Weber Kennedy Gallery opened

Tom Shephard 86-88 (two-year terms) John Hammer Tractor Building opened

Howard Levvis 88-89 elv Weber Homesite exhibit work started

Robert Shellenberger 89-92 Calcleras School Restoration vVeber Homesite and GDK Library open

Timothy Hachman 92-94 Valley Days Print Shop and Cook House completed

Gary Christopherson 94-96 Womens Suffrage and Timeless Traditions in rVine and Art opened

Craig Rasmussen 96-98 Developed Aluseum masterplan began fundraisingfor tractor building exhibit

liU[i~1

Museum StaffMembers in order offirst service

Medora Johnson Celia Myers Kathy Mettler Alice Perry Emil Beglau Edith Peters Fran Welch Richard Belding Bob Turner Myrtle Mays Rob Stockwell Judy 1ettler

Senior Employees

Virgil Edwards Tina Long

Edgar Richards Margaret Alexander

Jean Johnsen Leona Davson

Full and Part-time staff

Michael Bennett Deborah Mastel Richard Chandler Toni Di Franco T ami Raverty Marianne Bahlke Marvin Klemin William Hayde Terry Pecor Mike Huber Jim Kibble Paulloos

Sarah LeCompte Bill Ashlock Ute Gampp Linda Glauner Virginia Christ Kelly Woodruff Donald Walker

Lawrie Velma Moore Jacob Lozano Judy Rodman Beth Broucqsault

Grad Student Interns

Sylvia 1innick Amber Smith

Donald Walker Linda Johnson

General Membership Meeting Friday bull June 22 1998

At the Museum

Antiques and Collectibles

Bring your cherished items for show tell and appraisal Knowledgeable collectors and appraisers will be present to respond to your items

The following collectors and appraisers will be present

Hugh Hayes -appraising furniture knives and guns

Address correction requested

San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum PO Box 30 Lodi CA 95241-0030

Robert Soares-appraising razors clocks and furniture

Glenn Soares-appraising various collectibles

John McWilliams-appraising tin photos and early photos of the West

Refreshments will be served

Non-Profit Organization

POSTAGE PAID

Permit No 48 LodL CA 95241

THE SAN JOAQUIN HISTORIAN

QUARTERLY JOURAL OF THE Volume XI Jew Series - Number 4 SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Winter 1997

Daryl JHorrison Editor

lJike Henry Production Editor

Published by THE SAN JOAQUIN COu~TY

HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC Micke Grove Regional Park

PO Box 30 Lodi CA 95241-0030

209-331-2055 bull 209-953-3460

Craig Rasmussen President Helen Trethewey President Elect Elise Austin Forbes Secretary Mel Wingett Finance Robert F McMaster Treasurer Christopher Engh Publications Gary Christopherson Past President

The Society a nonprofit corporation meets the fourth Monday at 700 pm in February April June September and November Membership includes subshyscriptions to the San Joaquin Historian and the monthly newsletter News and Notes Additional copies may be purchased at the Museum

The Society operates the San Joaquin County Hisshytorical Museum at Micke Grove Regional Park in partshynership with San Joaquin County The Society mainshytains an office at the Museum

Manuscripts relating to the history of San Joaquin County or the Delta will always be considered The edishytor reserves the right to edit and shorten material based on local interest and space considerations Inquiry should be made through the Museum office

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND MUSEUM

MICHAEL W BENNETT DIRECTOR

copy 1998 San Joaquin Historical Society Inc

This issue

Our author Howard Levis is a two-term pastshyPresident and past -Treasurer of the San Joaquin County Historical Society and needs little introshyduction to our members His article provides a detailed look at the San Joaquin Cherry Growers not only from a careflil review of the records but through his own personal dealings with the orgashynization as a Certified Public Accountant vith Lyman amp Keister

New Editorial Team

A nev editorial team takes on the San Joaquin Historiall vith this issue Please forgive the tarshydiness of our first learning issue Daryl Morrison is the new Editor She is Head of the Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections atthe University ofthe Pacific Library Interested in learning more about the countys hi story she welcomes a chance to read the many manuscripts that should be flooding into the office with the Winterspring rains

Mike Henry is the editor of the Lockeford Clements News He will be our Production Edishytor He brings many years of experience in jourshynalism and publication production work Hoping to divide and conquer the work we plan to bring you many interesting and lively issues

THE STORY OF THE






-By Howard Lewis





IWPUf















liMJI













WPlffJ























tuI









WInfl











SlOn











IfU[I




S Solari Jr Cll























I~J(I







IWNJfI



ABOUT THE AUTHOR









Note on Sources




PROGRLM 730 PM


JUNE 20 1998




PROGRAM 900 PM



s35l1per person

I JtJ[jijl






















liU[i~1



Senior Employees












At the Museum












POSTAGE PAID


THE STORY OF THE






-By Howard Lewis





IWPUf















liMJI













WPlffJ























tuI









WInfl











SlOn











IfU[I




S Solari Jr Cll























I~J(I







IWNJfI



ABOUT THE AUTHOR









Note on Sources




PROGRLM 730 PM


JUNE 20 1998




PROGRAM 900 PM



s35l1per person

I JtJ[jijl






















liU[i~1



Senior Employees












At the Museum












POSTAGE PAID
















liMJI













WPlffJ























tuI









WInfl











SlOn











IfU[I




S Solari Jr Cll























I~J(I







IWNJfI



ABOUT THE AUTHOR









Note on Sources




PROGRLM 730 PM


JUNE 20 1998




PROGRAM 900 PM



s35l1per person

I JtJ[jijl






















liU[i~1



Senior Employees












At the Museum












POSTAGE PAID












WPlffJ























tuI









WInfl











SlOn











IfU[I




S Solari Jr Cll























I~J(I







IWNJfI



ABOUT THE AUTHOR









Note on Sources




PROGRLM 730 PM


JUNE 20 1998




PROGRAM 900 PM



s35l1per person

I JtJ[jijl






















liU[i~1



Senior Employees












At the Museum












POSTAGE PAID
























tuI









WInfl











SlOn











IfU[I




S Solari Jr Cll























I~J(I







IWNJfI



ABOUT THE AUTHOR









Note on Sources




PROGRLM 730 PM


JUNE 20 1998




PROGRAM 900 PM



s35l1per person

I JtJ[jijl






















liU[i~1



Senior Employees












At the Museum












POSTAGE PAID










WInfl











SlOn











IfU[I




S Solari Jr Cll























I~J(I







IWNJfI



ABOUT THE AUTHOR









Note on Sources




PROGRLM 730 PM


JUNE 20 1998




PROGRAM 900 PM



s35l1per person

I JtJ[jijl






















liU[i~1



Senior Employees












At the Museum












POSTAGE PAID



SlOn











IfU[I




S Solari Jr Cll























I~J(I







IWNJfI



ABOUT THE AUTHOR









Note on Sources




PROGRLM 730 PM


JUNE 20 1998




PROGRAM 900 PM



s35l1per person

I JtJ[jijl






















liU[i~1



Senior Employees












At the Museum












POSTAGE PAID





S Solari Jr Cll























I~J(I







IWNJfI



ABOUT THE AUTHOR









Note on Sources




PROGRLM 730 PM


JUNE 20 1998




PROGRAM 900 PM



s35l1per person

I JtJ[jijl






















liU[i~1



Senior Employees












At the Museum












POSTAGE PAID












I~J(I







IWNJfI



ABOUT THE AUTHOR









Note on Sources




PROGRLM 730 PM


JUNE 20 1998




PROGRAM 900 PM



s35l1per person

I JtJ[jijl






















liU[i~1



Senior Employees












At the Museum












POSTAGE PAID








IWNJfI



ABOUT THE AUTHOR









Note on Sources




PROGRLM 730 PM


JUNE 20 1998




PROGRAM 900 PM



s35l1per person

I JtJ[jijl






















liU[i~1



Senior Employees












At the Museum












POSTAGE PAID







Note on Sources




PROGRLM 730 PM


JUNE 20 1998




PROGRAM 900 PM



s35l1per person

I JtJ[jijl






















liU[i~1



Senior Employees












At the Museum












POSTAGE PAID























liU[i~1



Senior Employees












At the Museum












POSTAGE PAID




Senior Employees












At the Museum












POSTAGE PAID



At the Museum












POSTAGE PAID


the san joaquin historian · cherry producers gathered at the growers ... eventually it \yas...

Documents