SAL perishable ops

[Richard Stallworth]

Let's talk about perishable operations. I've
read about citrus shipments out of central
Florida but there is little info about veg. &
fruit shipments out of north Florida. My area produced and still does tons and tons of
watermelons. Anybody know anything about packing houses in north Florida? Did SAL run
extras of reefers or venti. boxcars during the harvest? Did farmers load their produce
directly into boxcars or was a middleman or
agent involved?

[Denis F. Blake]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Richard Stallworth:
Let's talk about perishable operations. I've
read about citrus shipments out of central
Florida but there is little info about veg. &
fruit shipments out of north Florida. My area produced and still does tons and tons of
watermelons. Anybody know anything about packing houses in north Florida? Did SAL run
extras of reefers or venti. boxcars during the harvest? Did farmers load their produce
directly into boxcars or was a middleman or
agent involved?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hey Rich, I do know that the Seaboard ran an extensive number or hot perishable extras to the NE. They were often, pre refrigerator cars, done with ventilated boxcars and ice reefers. There was a large icing facility in Hamlet and the trains would stop there to get iced. I think that there was also a large facility in Savannah as well. As far as gathering the produce, I have seen photo's of farmers trucks just backed up to the local team track and the mellons and what not are loaded into the cars. As far as a middle man, I don't know about that. It would seem to me that perhaps an individual car was consigned to some major packing house or wharehouse in the NE. Let me check one of my books, the one by Bill Griffin, and see what it says in there.

Denis

[Denis F. Blake]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Richard Stallworth:
Let's talk about perishable operations. I've
read about citrus shipments out of central
Florida but there is little info about veg. &
fruit shipments out of north Florida. My area produced and still does tons and tons of
watermelons. Anybody know anything about packing houses in north Florida? Did SAL run
extras of reefers or venti. boxcars during the harvest? Did farmers load their produce
directly into boxcars or was a middleman or
agent involved?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Rich

Forgot to mention this but I think I told you about during an IM chat. I have a map of the SAL that shows citrus and produce packing locations on the SAL for one growing season. It is from the late 50's though and I think that is out of your modeling era. However, if you would like a copy of it just let me know.

Denis