Antique 1920s Surety Crate Label, Yakima, Wa Steamship, Beautiful Label!

This exquisite antique crate label from the 1920s is a must-have for the collector. The design perfectly captures the vibrancy of its time with a beautiful steamship and lush, colorful graphics. It originates from Yakima, Washington and features the Surety logo in bright red and blue. Add a touch of vintage charm to any room or display with this vibrant and unique piece. Own a piece of history and add a splash of vivid color to you collection!

10" x 9" ~

The company in the early days was known as Sunnyslope Orchard Tracts. They were deeply in debt, but most of the liabilities were investor claims. Ralph Sundquist was able, over time, to pay off the debt and acquire sole ownership of the land and was able to purchase additional acreage for his orchard. By the late 1920s, Sundquist had many fruit-bearing trees and was able to take advantage of heightened prices.

Ralph had amazing foresight as well as an understanding of the importance of labels in the marketing of his ever-growing output of fruit. Most of the labels included the trademarked phrase, “From The Tree To The Trade” or “From Tree To Trade” to emphasize the vertical integration of the Sundquist enterprise and the fact that control of the entire growing and packing operations afforded superior and more consistent quality that the consumer knew to count on.

During the Great Depression, Sundquist had to adapt and rented facilities in Selah to embark upon an apple packing and selling enterprise to eliminate the cost of a middleman in getting his fruit to market.

In 1935, he had an opportunity to purchase a cold storage and packing plant on Yakima’s “produce row.” Because of the severely depressed economy, orchard acreage was available throughout the Yakima Valley at very low prices. Although already deeply overextended and putting himself at risk, Sundquist took advantage of the conditions and purchased a number of fairly large orchards. This increased production and necessitated the expansion of his packing and storage facilities.

In 1950, Ralph’s son Marvin joined the business. Orchard acreage subsequently doubled, and controlled atmospheric storage was built.

During the 1960s and 1970s, Marvin’s three sons, Steve, Curtis, and Craig, joined the business. Ralph died in 1977. A new packing and storage plant was built adjacent to the Terrace Heights orchards in 1979 and 1980. This encouraged the company to plant additional orchards in Terrace Heights during the 1980s and 1990s.

In 2007, acreage in the Columbia Basin north of Pasco was acquired and planted in apples and cherries. Almost all the older orchards have been removed and replanted during the past fifteen years. Today as of this writing, Sundquist Fruit & Cold Storage remains an American family-owned business with two members of the fourth generation joining the operation in 2008.

My pictures seriously don't do it justice.

Crate Labels are a reminder of a bygone era, but the amazing lithography process is unparalleled even to this day in my opinion. Museums and Art Institutes have galleries dedicated to them and more and more of them and collectors are seeking these out to preserve their history. Once the limited supply for sale is gone and on display with collectors or in galleries then they will be very difficult to acquire.

Imagine this amazing vintage advertising hanging as home decor in any room of your home instead of a museum!

This has reached full antique status.