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Manzanita asparagus can label
Currently on display
From the Smithsonian Collection
This 1910s Manzanita Brand green asparagus can label was produced for the California Fruit Canners Association of San Francisco California. As canning techniques improved, more fruits and vegetables were commercial canned. |
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Physical Description |
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artifact. label. The label includes a picture of asparagus, and instructions for how to prepare it.
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Details |
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History |
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California's rich soil and good climate made it ripe for commercialized agriculture. By the 1880s, fruit and vegetable production had become a critical part of the agricultural scene. After California growers became connected to the rest of the country through the railroads, cultivators began to experiment with different kinds of crops. Wheat-which is easy to grow and ship, and can be harvested mechanically-was the first major export from the state, but fruits and vegetables were grown extensively by the end of the 19th century. Canned and fresh produce was shipped around the country, and in some instances around the world, helping feed America's growing urban populations, and changing peoples' diets.
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