Sun-Maid facts for kids
Logo in use since April 2020
|
|
| Agricultural cooperative | |
| Predecessor | California Associated Raisin Company |
| Founded | 1912 |
| Headquarters |
,
U.S.
|
|
Area served
|
California |
| Products | Raisins and dried fruit |
Sun-Maid Growers of California is a special company that belongs to the farmers who grow raisins. It is based in Fresno, California, in the United States. Sun-Maid is one of the biggest companies in the world that processes raisins and other dried fruits.
About 850 family farmers own Sun-Maid. These farmers grow raisin grapes within 100-mile (160-kilometer) of the main processing plant. Sun-Maid also gets dried fruit from other places.
Sun-Maid raisins come in a famous red box. On the box, you'll see the "Sun-Maid Girl." She wears a red sunbonnet and holds a tray of fresh grapes.
Sun-Maid raisins are grown in the Central Valley of California. This area is perfect for growing grapes because of its sunny climate. The grapes are picked in late August or early September. They are then dried in the sun. Some are picked by hand and laid on paper trays. Others dry on the vine before being harvested by machines. Sun-Maid sends its products all over the United States and to more than 60 other countries.
Sun-Maid makes over 200 million pounds (90 million kilograms) of natural raisins every year. Almost half of these raisins are sold directly to people in boxes, bags, or canisters. The other half are sold to bakeries and cereal companies. They use them as raisin paste or raisin concentrate. The most common grape used for raisins is the Thompson Seedless grape.
Besides raisins, Sun-Maid sells many other dried fruits. These include figs, dates, cranberries, apples, prunes, apricots, and tropical fruits. They also sell tasty yogurt-covered raisins.
Sun-Maid also works with other companies. For example, The Promotion in Motion Companies, Inc. makes Sun-Maid raisins covered in milk chocolate. They do this with permission from Sun-Maid.
Contents
The Story of Sun-Maid Raisins
Early Grape Growing in California
In 1873, a person named Francis T. Eisen started growing grapes. He planted an experimental vineyard of Muscat grapes near Fresno. By 1878, packaged raisins were being sent out of California. By 1903, California was making 120 million pounds of raisins each year!
Many packing houses quickly opened up. These places were important links between farmers and customers. They stored, processed, packaged, and shipped the sun-dried raisins. Hundreds of immigrant workers helped in these facilities.
When the transcontinental railroad was finished in 1869, it changed everything. Farmers and new settlers from the East could move to California. They could also quickly send their products to new markets. In 1872, the Central Pacific Railroad came to the San Joaquin Valley. It stopped in what is now downtown Fresno. As the railroads grew, more farmers came to the area. They grew crops to meet the demand from far-off markets.
Starting the Cooperative
Raisins became a popular crop that grew well in California's sun. So, more and more land was used for growing raisin grapes in the late 1800s.
Farmers wanted to work together to sell their raisins. The first successful efforts to form a cooperative business began in 1898. With support from the community, the California Associated Raisin Company was created in 1912.
In 1915, the brand name Sun-Maid was launched. An advertising expert named E.A. Berg came up with the name. In 1918, the company opened a new building near downtown Fresno, California.
By the early 1920s, most of California's raisin growers (85%) were part of the California Associated Raisin Company. In 1922, the organization changed its name to Sun-Maid Growers of California. This helped people connect the company with its well-known brand.
Modern Growth and Headquarters
In 1964, Sun-Maid grew and became more modern. They built a new facility in Kingsburg and moved there. This large building is 640,000-square-foot (59,000-square-meter) and sits on over 100 acres (40 hectares) of land. It is located about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Fresno.
Today, the Kingsburg plant is the main international center for Sun-Maid Growers of California. However, the company's main corporate office is still in Fresno. In 2012, Sun-Maid celebrated 100 years as a farmer-owned cooperative.
Meet the Sun-Maid Girl
The first "Sun-Maid Girl" was a real person! Her name was Lorraine Collett. In 1915, she attended a big event in San Francisco called the Panama–Pacific International Exposition. She was one of several young girls representing the California Associated Raisin Company.
These "Sun-Maid girls" helped promote raisins. They gave out raisin samples to visitors. They wore white blouses with blue trim and blue sunbonnets.
A picture of Lorraine Collett appeared in a newspaper called the San Francisco Bulletin in 1915. It helped tell people about Sun-Maid at the Expo. While working at the Expo, Lorraine also posed for an artist named Fanny Scafford. The artist tried different poses. She finally chose the famous pose with a tray of grapes and a bright sunburst behind her. By then, all the Sun-Maid girls were wearing red bonnets.
In May 1916, the company decided Lorraine Collett would be the face of Sun-Maid. Her image with the red sunbonnet and grape tray was updated over the years. It was changed in 1956 and again in 1970. Lorraine Collett continued to make special appearances as the original Sun-Maid Girl until she passed away at age 90.
The current Sun-Maid Girl image was created in 1970. A freelance artist named John Lichtenwalner designed it. He used the older versions of the Sun-Maid Girl to make a cleaner, more modern picture. A young actress and model named Liz Weide was the model for this updated portrait. The picture shows her centered over a sunburst. This artwork has been used all over the world and has not changed for more than 40 years.
In 2006, the Sun-Maid Girl was animated for the first time. She walked and talked in television commercials. These commercials were made by Synthespian Studios.
How the Sun-Maid Brand Changed
-
The California Associated Raisin Company starts using the “Sun-Maid” brand name. This is the first painting of Lorraine Collett.
-
The first change to the Sun-Maid Girl image. She has a bigger smile and brighter colors. The sun looks more modern, fitting the style of the 1920s.
-
The logo is updated again. The sun is moved to the side. This makes the sunshine look stronger, and the bonnet casts a shadow on the Sun-Maid Girl’s face.
-
Brighter colors and a geometric sun make the logo look very modern. The brand’s name is now printed in yellow, giving it a warmer, sunnier feel. This Sun-Maid Girl is still on packages today.
