| In the 1880s the advent of the Southern Pacific and | | | | are the main reasons so many crate labels remain in |
| other railroads gave farmers the opportunity to ship | | | | excellent condition today. |
| their produce to distant markets. The produce was | | | | Early crate labels tended to feature "naturalistic" topics |
| packed in wooden crates and a method was needed | | | | - things such as landmarks, flowers, fruit and |
| to identify the type of fruit or vegetable as well as the | | | | landscapes. As oranges and lemons from Southern |
| producer. Paper crate labels, glued to the end of each | | | | California were the most commonly shipped produce, |
| crate solved this problem. | | | | the labels often displayed images of citrus orchards or |
| As markets grew, producers soon realized that | | | | sunny landscapes. A few decades later, in the 1920s |
| wholesalers would bid on large batches of produce, | | | | and 1930s, labels were likely to feature the health |
| almost sight unseen. In addition to providing identifying | | | | benefits of eating fresh fruit and vegetables. This |
| information, crate labels became advertising for the | | | | reflected the growing concern with health and diet. |
| produce. Designs were created using bright colors | | | | From the late 1930s to the 1950s, designers focused |
| showing pastoral landscapes and orchards or healthy | | | | on brand recognition, creating many bold and |
| people enjoying life by eating the fruits or vegetables. | | | | memorable designs. |
| The designs were directed at both the wholesale | | | | Cardboard boxes were introduced in the mid 1950s |
| buyers as well as the neighborhood markets where | | | | and replaced wooden crates. This signaled the end of |
| the produce would be displayed for customers. | | | | most crate labels. Cardboard boxes were cheaper, |
| The use of crate labels began in Southern California | | | | lighter and companies could print their logo and |
| where lemons and oranges were shipped across the | | | | information directly one the box, removing the |
| United States, but soon the labels were being used | | | | necessity for separate labels. The change to |
| worldwide. Nearly every agricultural area in the world, | | | | cardboard boxes was swift, and many crate labels |
| especially Europe and South America had their own | | | | were left unused. Some were discarded, but many |
| designs. As rail transportation became more efficient | | | | ended up gathering dust in back rooms and storage |
| and refrigeration became available, many other types | | | | areas. |
| of perishable produce were shipped long distances | | | | Although a few people have collected crate labels |
| and new labels were crated for those products. | | | | since they were introduced over a century ago, they |
| The labels were printed on durable paper. Produce | | | | did not become popular collector's items until the mid |
| would be shipped, sometimes thousands of miles, and | | | | 1970s. It was around this time that collectors realized |
| it was important that the labels survived undamaged. | | | | that high quality art was to be found on old labels. |
| The labels also needed to be bright and colorful, often | | | | They started searching warehouses and packing |
| using striking and original color schemes. This required | | | | houses for old stocks of unused crate labels, often |
| running the labels through the printing process many | | | | finding large quantities that had been stored for years. |
| times to achieve the correct colors and brightness. | | | | These finds are the main source of the crate labels |
| The durability of the paper and quality of the printing | | | | that are on the market today. |