An Illustrated History of Commercial Agriculture in the Arizona Desert

Fruit and vegetable farming has a long history in Arizona, and the colorful crate labels used by the industry to grab the attention of eastern wholesale produce buyers are some of the best examples of 20th century commercial art. Regional historian John Medley, whose extensive collection of vintage paper ephemera centers on the American Southwest produce industry with an emphasis on Arizona, will present the history of Arizona’s commercial produce industry through the artwork once essential to citrus and vegetable marketing.

Join us as historian Royal "John" Medley discusses the history of Arizona’s produce industry through its colorful “crate label” art. Mr. Medley has accumulated an extensive agricultural archive of some of the best commercial art of the early to late 20th Century. A member of the board of directors of the Oracle Historical Society, he has published articles in the Journal of Arizona History and presented at the annual Arizona History Convention.

His collections illustrate the history of Arizona agriculture which began to blossom over 100 years ago as the state’s fresh produce was distributed across the nation. Shipped in ice-chilled railcars, fruits and vegetables were packed in wooden crates with eye-catching labels, which drew upon the history, imagery, and myths of the Southwest. This combination of agriculture and art has created a legacy of beloved vintage produce label ephemera. FREE EVENT

Host or Publisher PW Litchfield Heritage Center