2.4.1 Irrigated Orchard, Sacramento Valley

Description

Author Upton Sinclair once described California as “the land of orange groves and jails” and the Sacramento Valley, especially the communities of Fair Oaks, Citrus Heights and Orangevale produced vast amounts of citrus fruits that reached maturity and market weeks ahead of the rest of the state. By the time this postcard was sold the freeze of December 1932 had all but decimated the citrus industry in Sacramento and Placer County. Other cash crops like olives, sugar beets, strawberries and pears survived and bounced back but Sacramento Valley citrus fruits never regained their control of the market.