Lindsay in Tulare County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Cairns Corner Olive Trees
First Commercial Planting of Olive Trees in Tulare County
Photographed By Jamie Gallant Jamison, September 4, 2020
1. Cairns Corner Olive Trees Marker
Inscription.
Cairns Corner Olive Trees. First Commercial Planting of Olive Trees in Tulare County. In 1894 John Jolly (J.J.) Cairns planted rows of olive trees as a windbreak on the north side of his newly planted orange orchard. His daughters Laura and Ethel, stated that Cairns truly loved the beauty of the trees. He planted three rows on the west side of the orange orchard and one row on the north. Cairns' olive trees produced 63 tons of olives at $55 per ton in 1907. J.J. Cairns became a pioneer of the Lindsay olive industry, although commercial value of the olives was an after-thought. Lindsay olives were internationally known as a high quality product and were very much sought after by olive buyers who paid a premium for them. Cairns died in 1926, but his trees live on to create a rural landscape and gateway to Lindsay.
In 1894 John Jolly (J.J.) Cairns planted rows of olive trees as a windbreak on the north side of his newly planted orange orchard. His daughters Laura and Ethel, stated that Cairns truly loved the beauty of the trees. He planted three rows on the west side of the orange orchard and one row on the north. Cairns' olive trees produced 63 tons of olives at $55 per ton in 1907. J.J. Cairns became a pioneer of the Lindsay olive industry, although commercial value of the olives was an after-thought. Lindsay olives were internationally known as a high quality product and were very much sought after by olive buyers who paid a premium for them. Cairns died in 1926, but his trees live on to create a rural landscape and gateway to Lindsay.
Erected 2003 by Tulare County Historical Society and State of California Department of Transportation.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Environment. In addition, it is included in the Historic Trees series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1894.
Location. 36° 12.642′ N, 119° 8.121′ W. Marker is in Lindsay, California, in Tulare County. Marker is at the intersection of Tulare Lindsay Highway and Cairns Avenue, on the right when traveling east on
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Tulare Lindsay Highway. Some few steps west of the marker is a wonderful produce stand, "Cairns Corner Produce.". Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lindsay CA 93247, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 31, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2020, by Col. James F. Jamison, USMC (Ret) of Coronado, California. This page has been viewed 320 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on September 5, 2020, by Col. James F. Jamison, USMC (Ret) of Coronado, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
