Shipping Crates

Corona Lemon Co. Packinghouse
Corona Beauty Label

Since fruit was first transported on a large scale from the 1880s through the 1950s, wooden shipping crates were used. The crates used for transporting oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits have a few common characteristics, but they can vary slightly depending on the specific fruit, packing company, and era. There were thousands of fruit packing houses across the nation using wooden crates to move everything from raisins and prunes, to apples and bartlett pears.

Here’s a breakdown of the wooden shipping crate design, as it pertains to Corona’s citrus industry.

It should be noted that “crate” is more of a modern accepted term, as primary sources refer to these items as “boxes.” Both terms are used interchangeably.

Purpose

These crates were primarily used for shipping and storing the fruits while keeping them safe from damage.

Material

1. 1. Typically, pinewood or cedar are used, as these are lightweight, durable, and inexpensive. The wood is often treated to resist moisture and prevent damage during transport, especially considering the fruits' tendency to release moisture.
  2. Standard iron nails are used to hold the entire crate together.
  3. Corrugated fasteners help join multiple pieces of wood together. This method was frequently used to create single end boards.

Design

Rectangular shape: Most boxes are designed in a rectangular shape to efficiently stack and store the fruits. They are designed for efficient transportation by rail car.
Slatted design: Wooden crates often have slats, which allow for ventilation. This is important for keeping the fruits fresh by reducing humidity and allowing air circulation.
The wooden slats are nailed together to form the structure
The structure helps distribute the weight evenly, preventing bruising or squishing of the fruits.
Many box ends are reinforced on sides where nails are typically inserted.

California Fruit Exchange
Small box end

Corrugated fastener on box end
Corona Foothill Lemon Company

Inserted wood reinforcement
W.H. Jameson Company

Crate Sizes

Before Unions began to widespread standardize dimensions for packing crates, most companies would use whichever fit best for their shipping method. Early wooden crates varied greatly, as did many of the labels designed to fit on the ends of each crate. As time went on, you might have noticed that label dimensions grew more consistent. This is a direct reflection of the standards placed by the ever-growing fruit unions.

Lemons and limes were shipped in similar sized crates. These are shallower than orange and grapefruit crates, mostly due to sour citrus being harder to sell.

Lemon Box Dimensions

(as measured off an original "Progressive" brand from Jameson Company)

Overall 13 ½" x 10" x 27" (without top)

3 End boards 5/8" thick
13" width x 9 ¾" height
Label is pasted to one end

4 Side boards 3/16" thick
27" length x 4 ⅜" width
1/2" gap between boards
Each secured with 9 nails

2 Bottom boards 3/16" thick
27" length x 5 ¾" width
3/4" gap between boards
Each secured with 12 nails

2 Top boards 3/16" thick
27" wide x 5 ¾" width
Each secured with 4 nails

Courtesy of Caffrey Collection

Orange Box Dimensions

(as measured off an original "Consul" brand from R.H. Verity, Sons & Company)

Overall 12" x 12" x 26" (without top)

3 End boards 5/8" thick
11 ½" width x 11 ½" height
Label is pasted to one end

4 Side boards 1/4" thick
26" length x 4 ¾" to 4 ⅞" width
1" gap between boards
Each secured with 9 nails

2 Bottom boards 1/4" thick
26" length x 4 ¾" to 4 ⅞" width
3/4" gap between boards
Each secured with 9 nails

2 Top boards? The measured example has no evidence of nailed on top

Courtesy of Corona Public Library

Half Crates

There was also a smaller-sized citrus crate, though we’re not certain when exactly these were introduced. They were likely produced to accommodate smaller orders, with reduced dimensions throughout. The label was evidently cropped before being pasted onto the end board. It possibly explains why so many surviving labels appear cropped or altered from their original printed size.

Were these ever officially called “half-boxes” at the time? We have no idea… but that’s what we’ll use on this website for clarity. If you happen to have any research or references that refer to these smaller crates, we’d love to hear from you!

Lemon Half-Box Dimensions

(as measured off an original "Pride of Corona" brand from Corona Foothill Lemon Company)

Overall 11 ½" x 10 ⅛" x 18" (without top)

2 End boards 5/8" thick
11" width x 9 ⅞" height
Label is pasted to one end

4 Side boards 1/4" thick
18" length x ½" width
1/4" gap between boards
Each secured with 6 nails

2 Bottom boards 1/4" thick
18" length x 4 ⅞" width
1/2" gap between boards
Each secured with 6 nails

2 Top boards 18" length
Each secured with 4 nails

Courtesy of Caffrey Collection

Wooden Crate Ends

Many enthusiasts over the years wanted to save the artwork of the fruit crate, but without taking up the large area of the entire wooden box. Often, the end boards with the lithograph pasted on it would be saved, and the other boards repurposed (or trashed). These labels are still affixed to the wood and are, quite frequently, in fairly poor shape. But there are still many out there!

Capacity

A crate (known as a box) generally holds anywhere from 20-30 pounds of fruit, depending on its design.

The original Sicily box would hold up to 360 citrus fruits packed in a single crate. It appears that the amounts were sometimes stamped onto each box.

300 boxes would fill a single rail car.

Label Sizes

The most common size for citrus labels: 11" width x 10" height. Grapefruits and their bulkier nature kept the same overall size as orange labels.

Lemon labels adopted a new size: 12½" width x 8¾" height. This new size reflects the new lemon box, which accommodated slightly less fruit.

Markings

Early boxes had very simple identification labels stamped on them, such as the name of the farm, the region the fruit was grown in, or the specific fruit type.
Most commonly, a lithographed label was pasted onto one end of the box.
The packer number (representing the person who packed the box) was stamped on an end. It was typically located somewhere above the label.
The quantity of fruit was sometimes stamped on the box.
A sticker or small stamping could have been affixed to record the citrus lot.
Other markings, aside from marketing, often indicated important information like the type of citrus (e.g., "Valencia oranges," "Meyer lemons," or "Ruby red grapefruits").
Later, some unions began to stencil the sides of the wooden panels. Sunkist was seen wide and far due to their consistent branding on wooden boxes.
Later boxes used by the Unions eventually phased out the labels.
Each packinghouse had its own standards for markings. These standards were not uniform across the industry. Markings evolved gradually over time.

Camel Brand
"VALENCIAS NET AMNT 288 ???"

Flavorex Brand
"23"

Progressive Brand
"PACKED BY No. 15"

Did you know? Early on, each citrus was washed in cold water before being waxed, wrapped, and packed! This helped to prevent rot and maintain the high quality appeal. Later, preservatives would replace the need for individual wrapping.

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