Susanville Mill Fruit Growers Supply Co.

The Fruit Growers Supply Co. purchased in 1919 41,000 acres of timber land again to provide shook needed for shipping the fruit from Sunkist member packers. The mill was built in 1921.

Westwood Mill – Westwood, CA

In the 1940s this mill was purchased by the Fruit Growers Supply Company (Sunkist) covering 780 acres plus a town of 640 houses for the workers. At this point in time the need of shook continued to increase. By the 1950s the requirement had reached between 40 and 50 MILLION wooden shipping crates just to supply the Sinkist member packers. In addition the “field boxes” used in the picking of citrus had to be met. The citrus dollars from these three mills provided a multiplier effect supporting many community families not directly associated with the California citrus industry.

Shook Factory (box factory) - Susanville Mill

The lumber was pre-cut, and shipped to each member packer to be assembled.