Fruit packing labels were glued onto the ends of fruit cases after packing. The label was then stamped with the variety/ quality (e.g. "fancy" see below) of the fruit and the number of fruits pieces in the case.
The fruit count was undertaken as each piece was individually hand wrapped in tissue (also displaying the brand) before being placed in the case.
The case was then bound with wire to reduce the chance of loosening during transit.
The labels provided by Eric Collyer in this collection are from the early 1900's and were donated to him.
The Blue Moon fruit packing case company located in Blackburn (see below) would receive fruit already packed (as was done by the Friedensruh orchard in Doncaster) or would pack for the orchard for a fee. The Blue Moon company standardised the sizes of packing cases to make transport more efficient,.
The cases were then tracked or trained to the docks for shipping in refrigerated ships.
This process continued from 1920’s up until the export of fruit was stifled by the EEC in the 1950’s and orchards were subdivided and covered with residential housing in the 1960s.
Source: Conversation with Eric Collyer Apr2021
Fruit Case Labels
Collection owned by Eric Collyer. Photographed in April 2021. Written permission to use sought Apr2021
Fancy Grade Pears ???
Grades of Dried Pears
U.S. Grade A or U.S. Fancy
a. U.S. Grade A or U.S. Fancy dried pears possess similar varietal characteristics; possess a practically uniform, bright typical color characteristic of well-matured pears; and are well shaped. No more than 5 percent by weight of the fruit may be of a color described in U.S. Grade B or U.S. Choice: and none of the fruit may be of a color described in U.S. Grade C or U.S. Standard.
b. Not more than a total tolerance of 10 percent by weight may be slabs, immature, or scraps; may be affected by russet or similar discoloration; may be damaged by discoloration, sunburn, hailmarks, limb-rubs hard end, black end, external stems and calyx cups, scab, disease, insect injury, or other similar defects; or may be affected by mold, decay, insect infestation (no live insects are permitted), imbedded dirt, or other foreign material: Provided, that not more than two-fifths of the total tolerance, or 4 percent by weight may be affected by mold, decay, insect infestation (no live insects are permitted), imbedded dirt, or other foreign material: And further provided, that not more than one-tenth of the total tolerance, or 1 percent by weight, may be affected by decay.
U.S. Grade B or U.S. Choice
a. U.S. Grade B or U.S. Choice dried pears possess similar varietal characteristics; possess a reasonably uniform, bright typical color, characteristic of reasonably well-matured pears; and are reasonably well shaped. Not more than 10 percent by weight of the fruit may be of a color described in U.S. Grade C or U.S. Standard.
b. Not more than a total tolerance of 15 percent by weight may be slabs, immature, or scraps; may be affected by russet or similar discoloration; may be damaged by discoloration, sunburn, hailmarks, limb-rub, hard end, black end, external stems and calyx cups, scabs, disease, insect injury, or other similar defects; or may be affected by mold, decay, insect infestation (no live insects are permitted), imbedded dirt, or other foreign material: Provided, that not more than one-third of the total tolerance, or 5 percent by weight, may be affected by mold, decay, insect infestation (no live insects are permitted), imbedded dirt, or other foreign material: And further provided, that not more than one-fifteenth of the total tolerance or 1 percent by weight, may be affected by decay.
U.S. Grade C or U.S. Standard
a. U.S. Grade C or U.S. Standard dried pears possess similar varietal characteristics; possess a fairly uniform color; characteristic of fairly well matured pears; and are fairly well shaped.
b. Not more than a total tolerance of 20 percent by weight may be slabs, immature, or scraps; may be affected by russet or similar discoloration, may be damaged by discoloration, sunburn, hail marks, limb-rubs, hard end, black end, external stems and calyx cups, scab, disease, insect infestation (no live insects are permitted), imbedded dirt, or other foreign material: Provided, that not more than one-fourth of the total tolerance, or 5 percent by weight may be affected by mold, decay, insect infestation (no live insects are permitted), imbedded dirt, or other foreign material: And further provided, that not more than one-tenth of the total tolerance, or 2 percent by weight, may be affected by decay.
U.S. Grade D or Substandard dried pears are wholesome and edible fruit that fails to meet the requirements of U.S. Grade C or U.S. Standard: Provided, that not more than 5 percent by weight of the total fruit may be affected by mold, decay, insect infestation (no live insects are permitted), imbedded dirt, or other foreign material: And further provided, that not more than 2 percent by weight of the total fruit may be affected by decay.
Source: https://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/dried-pears-grades-and-standards. Apr2021
Blue Moon Fruit Packing Company - Blackburn
A cool store was opened in 1918 and the Blue Moon Fruit Co-operative built its fruit cannery in 1930. Fruit came from orchards in Doncaster, Donvale and Mitcham.
Former Blue Moon jam factory, Blackburn, 2003. Creator: John Young Victorian Places
By 1940 it was described by the directory as a residential fruit and vegetable growing district with cool stores and fruit-case factories. There were a private hospital, a baby health centre, soldiers’ memorial hall and a horticultural society
Source: https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/blackburn. Apr2021
Blackburn's Blue Moon Fruit Co-operative in the 60s - one of Australia's largest fresh fruit exporters, who at one stage employed up to sixty women as fruit-packers. The local fruit industry declined by mid-70s and by 1974 the last fruit grown in Blackburn had been stored at the Blue Moon cool stores. Facebook - Whitehorse City Council
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