Central San Jose in Santa Clara County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Del Monte

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 19, 2020

1. Del Monte Marker

Cannery Life: Del Monte in the Santa Clara Valley
History San Jose website entry
Click for more information.

Inscription.
For over 100 years, the Del Monte corporation & its predecessors – The California Packing Corporation (Calpak) & the San José Fruit Packing Company – processed fruits & vegetables at this site. In 1893 the San José Fruit Packing Company constructed a state-of-the-art cannery featuring three major buildings & a number of auxiliary structures.

Calpak assumed operation of the cannery in 1916, renaming it Plant 3. Near a large pool of labor, the railroad, and thousands of acres of fruit orchards and vegetable farms - the site was ideal. The fertile soil of the Santa Clara Valley produced tons of fruit. At its peak in the 1940's, Plant 3 operated around the clock during the summer to process fruit while it was fresh.

In 1967, Calpak adopted the name of its most popular brand, Del Monte. As orchards were replaced by housing and office complexes in the 1980's, less local produce was being produced, and the future of Plant 3 came into question. One of the last canneries to operate in San José, Del Monte's Plant 3 closed in December 1999.

For more information about Delmonte Plant No. 3 visit www.historysanjose.org/cannerylife

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This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1999.

Location. 37° 19.288′ N, 121° 54.184′ W. Marker is in San Jose, California, in Santa Clara County. It is in Central San Jose. It is at the intersection of Auzerais Avenue and Los Gatos Creek Trail, on the right when traveling west on Auzerais Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Jose CA 95126, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area,

in Silicon Valley,

and on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Del Monte Packing Plant History (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Roberto – Suñol Adobe (approx. 0.4 miles away); San José Diridon Station

Del Monte Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 19, 2020

2. Del Monte Marker - wide view

The subject marker is the third from the right, with the auxiliary marker (see next photo) being directly to the left of it.

(approx. 0.6 miles away); Remembering Agriculture (approx. 0.8 miles away); Henry's Hi-Life (approx. one mile away); Hotel De Anza (approx. one mile away); College of Notre Dame (approx. one mile away); The Palomar Ballroom (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Jose.

More about this marker. The marker is located on the north side of Auzerais Avenue where it is crossed by the Los Gatos Creek Trail.

Del Monte Auxiliary Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 19, 2020

3. Del Monte Auxiliary Marker

Located a few steps to the left of the subject marker it reads: "Plant #3 was in an ideal location. It was close to a large labor pool and a few miles from fruit orchards and vegetable farms."

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 20, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 1,248 times since then and 82 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 20, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.