Fonds XAI RHC A0386035 - Vineland Growers’ Co-Operative Limited fonds

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Vineland Growers’ Co-Operative Limited fonds

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    Fonds

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    CA ON00344 XAI RHC A0386035

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    Date(s)

    • 1913-1988, predominant 1913-1960 (Creation)
      Creator
      Vineland Growers' Co-operative Limited

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    Physical description

    3.0 m of textual records

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    Administrative history

    The Vineland Growers’ Co-Operative is the longest continuing farm co-operative in Ontario, and now Canada’s largest grower and shipper of tender fruit, serving Canada, the United States and occasionally the United Kingdom. The co-operative was formed in 1913 by Niagara region fruit growers Alonzo H. Culp, Ezra Honsberger, Norman P. Moyer and Melvin Honsberger, all descended from Pennsylvanian immigrants of the 18th century. Together with local schoolteacher Walter M. Gayman, the founders united their skills and resources in order to improve fruit production and distribution for both growers and customers. A government charter granted the new co-operative authorized capital of $10,000, consisting of 400 shares valued at $25 each. The co-operative managed the production, marketing, sale and distribution of fruit products as well as a line of growers’ supplies such as baskets and fertilizers. It has grown steadily since its inception, from 28 members in 1919 to over 300 in 2003. Sales and returns to members have also increased nearly every year since 1915. The co-operative’s first office building was established at Vineland Station in 1917, and was replaced in 1939. A cold storage plant, the first of its kind in the Niagara Peninsula, was begun in 1948. In 1951, a basket factory was established at Jordan Station, and 1959 saw a central packing plant at Vineland and a branch warehouse at Fonthill added to the co-operative’s facilities.

    Custodial history

    Fonds was transferred from the Ontario Agricultural Museum in June 1999

    Scope and content

    The fonds includes records that document the financial and administrative activities of the organization, predominantly between 1913 and 1960. A small amount of published material gives an overview of the co-operative's history and development to 1988. The records consist of ledgers for accounts, sales, membership and inventories; legal and administrative documents; personnel records; and a small amount of correspondence and publications. Fonds is comprised of the following series: Finance Administration Personnel Publications

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        Restrictions on access

        Access is open

        Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

        Copyright, normally, is held by the creator. Materials cannot be published without the permission of the copyright holder.

        Finding aids

        A link to the finding aid is included in the fonds’ record in the library's catalogue. Information on searching the catalogue is located at: http://trellis3.tug-libraries.on.ca. http://trellis3.tug-libraries.on.ca

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        Accruals

        No further accruals are expected

        General note

        Fonds is housed in the library's off-site storage facility. Users can place a hold on the desired item(s) (through the online catalogue, see below). Items are usually delivered to the archives within a day, where they can be viewed in the Wellington County Reading Room.

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