The Cherry Boom: How a Local Cannery Turned Wenatchee’s Orchardists into Millionaires

Wenatchee’s agricultural landscape is shifting rapidly with the success of the Wenatchee Canning Company. Completed its sixth day of active existence this evening, the company is now employing a force of about 65 people, a number that will increase to 100 when tomatoes begin to arrive. The weekly payroll will then amount to over $700.

Although the original intention was to focus on canned tomatoes, figures have received a 'rude but not unpleasant jar' in the shape of five times as many cherries as expected. Manager E. Foy states that this year’s pack of cherries will exceed 12,000 cans.

Along with the unexpected flood of cherries have developed interesting facts regarding profits from raising and marketing fruit at the cannery. On Saturday, one man brought in a load of cherries which he sold for $194. Another has netted $6 per tree from his orchard, or at the rate of $7,600 per acre. This is considered nothing unusual in the amount produced per acre, as it is common to pick 200 pounds from one tree, with 120 trees set on an acre.

The price paid by the cannery is slightly in advance of that paid by local commission men, but the key advantage lies in logistics. These profits could not have been made had the fruitgrower been forced to ship his produce to Seattle or other foreign markets. While prices might be higher elsewhere, freight and commission deductions, along with a shrinkage of not less than ten percent during transit, would erase the gains.

While the establishment of the cannery means larger profits for the grower, Mr. Foy does not pose as a benefactor but states that he is running a straight business proposition intended to net everyone concerned a profit. As with any new proposition, fruit growers have been a little suspicious, and consequently, the amount of fruit handled this year was less than could have been. However, next year it is expected that enough produce can be secured to warrant a large addition to the present plant.

The present building is 30 feet by 200 feet. To this will be added a cooling room 30 by 58 feet as well as a warehouse 160 feet by 50 feet. About the same number of people will be employed next year, with additional work handled by labor-saving machinery.

Practically the entire output of the cannery for this year, estimated at 50,000 cans, is already sold. None of it will go further east than Havre, Montana.