Description

In this third issue, we will be discussing how to profit from a unique form of American public domain folk-art – late 19th and early 20th century fruit and vegetable crate labels! Between the late 1880’s and the mid 1950’s millions of splendidly colorful and picturesque paper labels were being used b America’s fruit and vegetable growers to advertise the wooden crates of fresh produce that were being shipped to marketplaces throughout the nation.

Created by some of the finest printing houses and most talented artists in the country, these beautiful paper labels were glued to the end of wooden fruit and vegetable crates for one reason only – to draw attention and catch the eyes of buyers.

As the agribusiness industry boomed with the introduction of the cross-country railroad system, it quickly became apparent to the nation’s produce growers that in order to stand out among strong competition in the marketplace, gain brand recognition and more sales, they would have to be clever and inventive with the packaging of their fruits and vegetables. They began using the only advertising space they had – the flat ends of the wooden crates the produce was being shipped in! By gluing paper labels on to the ends of the crates, growers now had a way to advertise their brand and draw attention to their produce.

As produce growers and packing houses in the late 19th century and early 20th century quickly discovered, the more attractive and appealing the artwork on their crate labels was, the more successfully the produce sold. The crate label became the only marketing weapon that a produce grower had – and it worked extremely well…