Corona's Citrus History

The Rise of Citrus in Corona

In the late 1800s, Corona's fertile soil and ideal climate attracted investors and settlers interested in citrus farming. Early investors, including Ethan Allen Chase and John Flagler, established the first groves and packing houses. However, lacking agricultural experience, they sought skilled workers from Italy, where citrus cultivation was well-established. This infusion of expertise helped boost Corona's citrus industry. By 1915, nearly a quarter of Corona's population was employed in citrus-related work, including packing and harvesting. When the Exchange Lemon Products Company began operations processing lemons, Corona became the world leader in lemon products. In the 1950s, there were over 600 full-time jobs and millions of lemons were processed daily.

We could go on, but you came here to read about Corona labels…

If you really want to dive in, check out our articles:

Importance of Fruit Labels
Corona’s Packing Houses
History on the Citrus Unions
Shipping Crates

Click on the images to see them!

Another incredible resource is The History of Corona, as presented by the Corona Historical Preservation Society (1986).

The Art of Citrus Crate Labels

To stand out in a competitive market, fruit growers across the country used colorful crate labels to advertise their products. These labels were affixed to wooden crates containing the fruits and served as both branding tools and works of art.

In our beautiful city of Corona, advertising like the Corona Beauty label became iconic symbols. The Pride of Corona label featured a regal crown, a striking representation of the city’s name. "Corona" is the Spanish word for "crown." Similarly, the Corona Beauty Lemons label highlighted the quality and allure of the fruit, emphasizing its appeal to consumers far and wide. It is certainly curious how such artwork (some over 100 years old) is recognized by thousands of residents to this very day.

View the city’s collection of citrus labels at Corona Heritage Online.

Lithography

A lithograph is a type of print made by using a smooth surface—usually stone or metal—to transfer an image onto paper. In the case of fruit crate labels, lithography was the main printing method used to create the bright, colorful designs that made the labels so eye-catching. These prints were mass-produced in large quantities, making it possible for citrus growers in places like Corona to label thousands of crates quickly and consistently.

Lithography is a versatile printing method that allows for precise and detailed artwork. It can be applied to virtually any flat material, including paper, cardboard, and even metal sheets. One of lithography's greatest strengths is that it faithfully reproduces exactly what the artist or stylist draws. Whether it's fine, hairline strokes or bold, thick outlines, the final print captures every intentional detail. This, in turn, makes great advertising to help packed fruit stand out in markets and attract buyers.

The Process

The process begins with the artist drawing directly onto a smooth stone using a waxy, grease-based substance. Wherever this drawing is applied is where ink will later adhere during printing. The untouched areas are chemically treated and etched away. This erosion creates valleys, much like the recessed type on a traditional printing press. This contrast allows for clean and sharp print reproduction. In simple terms: the drawn areas will transfer the ink, while the rest remain ink-free.

One of the notable techniques used in this process is stippling. Stippling is the method of drawing tiny dots of varying sizes and distances to create subtle gradients, shading, and texture without using lines or solid fills. The closer and larger the dots, the darker the area appears. The sparser or smaller the dots, the lighter the area appears. Stippling was especially common in early fruit crate labels because it mimicked the look of fine engraving while still being compatible with the lithographic process. It was a practical way to achieve depth, detail, and tones using only one or two ink colors. The result was a surprisingly rich and textured image, even when using a limited color palette.

With lithography, what the artist draws is exactly what gets printed… whether it's stippled shadows, bold outlines, or delicate decorative flourishes.

Color lithography added a layer of complexity. Each color in a design required its own separate stone or plate. After one color was printed and had dried, the next plate was carefully aligned. This process is called registration. For a single color citrus crate label, printers had to carefully register multiple layers (one for each color). Each layer of color would sit perfectly atop the previous layer(s). Misalignment, even by a small amount, could result in a blurred or distorted image. Depending on the design, a label might use as few as two colors or as many as six or more. This layering technique is what gives these labels their distinctive richness, vibrancy, and depth.

Format

California citrus labels varied in size to compliment the dimensions of the wooden crates they were designed for. Labels were printed in landscape orientation. Orange and grapefruit labels were typically around 10 x 11 inches, while lemon crate labels were slightly longer and narrower, usually about 9 x 12 inches. These differences reflected the unique crate shapes used for each type of fruit.

Collectors today often use label dimensions and format to help identify the fruit type, the era of production, and even which packinghouse or region it came from. Over time, as branding became more competitive, some labels incorporated variations like smaller end labels or paired designs to maintain visibility from multiple angles.

More Info

California would become a leader in crate label design. As historian Joe Davidson noted, “California growers and lithographers pioneered many of the innovations which were later copied by growers in other parts of our nation…”

Click Here to learn how Lithographs are made. A wonderful webpage by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Click Here to read a full history of Lithography, as provided by Encyclopedia Britannica.

Thanks to lithography, fruit crate labels became more than just product identifiers—they became miniature works of art. Unfortunately, the richness and subtle detail of these prints are difficult to capture with modern digital cameras or scanners. To truly appreciate their depth and craftsmanship, the originals are best viewed in person.

Economic Impact and Innovation

The success of citrus farming in Corona led to the establishment of processing plants that turned lower-grade lemons into valuable products. The Exchange By-Products Company processed lemons into citric acid, lemon juice, pectin, and lemon oil. Lemon products were marketed as healthy alternatives for a wide variety of everyday essentials, even skincare! In 1921, it became the famous Exchange Lemon Products and Corona became #1 in sending quick, frozen lemonade around the nation. In 1958, it merged with Sunkist Growers, forming the Lemon Products Division, which continued to innovate in lemon processing until the factory closed in 1982.

Labor was essential to this success. Italian and Mexican-American workers played a crucial role in cultivating, harvesting, and processing citrus crops, working tirelessly to maintain the industry's operations. It wasn’t always positive. Early California life was certainly a rough, western adventure, but that is a story for another day…

The lemon was defining for Corona, but it wouldn’t last forever. Eventually, housing developments took over the groves as the city’s population surged and the packing houses were repurposed for new industries. Today, only a few vestigials of the former agricultural empire remain.

All of the above photographs were digitized at the W.D. Addison Heritage Room.

If you like this sort of history, you should also follow the History of Corona Facebook page.

Legacy and Preservation

In 2023, the City of Corona adopted a new color scheme and font as part of its updated identity, drawing inspiration from the charm of our own citrus crate labels. This website's color palette proudly reflects that same heritage.