California's Citrus Heritage

California’s Citrus Heritage

A history of Southern California’s second gold rush, told through the vivid commercial art of the citrus crate label.

Presented by Bautista Creek Ranches
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A Word from Sunkist

California's citrus industry has helped shape communities, livelihoods, and agricultural innovation across generations. As President of Sunkist, I'm proud of the meaningful role our growers have played over the past 133 years, alongside the broader industry, in building this legacy. Efforts like these help preserve an important chapter of our shared history and ensure future generations can appreciate the people, growers, and pioneering spirit that define California citrus today.

Jim Phillips

President & CEO, Sunkist Growers, Inc.

Limited edition canvas prints

Own a piece of California's citrus history

Museum-quality canvas prints of original vintage citrus crate labels. Vivid commercial art from the golden age of Southern California agriculture, hand-stretched on gallery-depth frames.

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First generation farmer David H. Kelley, my great grandfather, posing with his two sons. Circa 1930.

The Feature Essay

Southern California's Second Gold Rush

A single planting of citrus trees triggered a migration west as consequential as the Gold Rush of 1849. Our feature essay traces the people, art, and ambition behind the crate labels that built an industry.

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In the News

Featured across the Southern California News Group

California’s Citrus Heritage has been featured in 10+ articles across the Southern California News Group, including The Press-Enterprise, The Orange County Register, and the Los Angeles Daily News, highlighting our effort to preserve the art, history, and cultural legacy of vintage citrus crate labels for future generations.

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A Southern California citrus grove at golden hour, with orange trees stretching toward the foothills near Hemet.

As Featured In

A vintage broadcast microphone adorned with orange blossom flowers — the symbol of NPR's AirTalk coverage of California Citrus Heritage.

On the Air

Featured on NPR's AirTalk, 89.3FM

California’s Citrus Heritage was recently featured on AirTalk, broadcast by LAist 89.3 FM, Los Angeles's largest NPR station. Host Larry Mantle explored how our collection preserves the golden era of California's citrus industry, from the art of vintage crate labels to the groves and growers who shaped the region's identity. Listen in to hear the story behind the archive.

Our segment starts around 1:08:00 - Larry Mantle digs into the story behind the crate labels.
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The Collection

Preserving Our Past, Inspiring Our Future

We collect and share the historic crate labels that sold the world on a golden, sun-filled California — the commercial art that turned a regional crop into an American icon.

Explore the Collection
Historic California citrus crate labels

Featured labels

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  • California Dream, citrus crate label, sunkist, Placentia, Orange County, California, 1890-1900

    California Dream

    c. 1890-1900

  • Dragon, citrus crate label, Redlands, California, 1930-1940

    Dragon

    c. 1930-1940

  • Gold Coast, citrus crate label, valencias, Fullerton, Orange County, California, 1930

    Gold Coast

    c. 1930

  • Glider, citrus crate label, valencias, Fillmore, Ventura County, Calif., 1920-1930

    Glider

    c. 1920-1930

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