Beloved American artist Norman Rockwell creates a number of paintings for use in Sun-Maid print advertising.
1918
The cooperative opens a massive new processing plant in Fresno, dubbed the finest factory building this side of Detroit. It would be Sun-Maids home for the next 46 years.
1916
The co-op adopts the name Sun-Maid. Miss Lorraine Collett posed for a painting which would become the company’s new trademark and soon one of America’s most recognized product symbols.
1912
A group of San Joaquin Valley raisin growers propose a new grower-owned cooperative the Californian
Associated Raisin Company. At the time, rapid uncontrolled growth of the raisin industry was leading to wide fluctuations in supply and prices.
1922
More than 85% of Californias raisin growers are members of the co-op, which changed its name to Sun-Maid Raisin Growers of California in 1922 to identify more closely with its nationally recognized brand.
1918
California raisins are shipped to Japan for the first time.
1915
Advertising executive E.A. Berg originates name "Sun-Maid."
