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The Depression Years 1930-1939
By Richard Cherrix Between the years of 1929 and 1939 the world saw one of the most devastating periods of hardship, poverty, and governmental instability. With the start of the Great Depression governments from around the world were thrown into almost ten years of turmoil. The Great Depression affected most of the industrialized nations in the world. In Europe as well as the United States, the depression threw a record number of people into unemployment. Working hand in hand with unemployment came governmental instability. The ravages of the Great Depression did not spare the dried fruit industry. One of the first actions of the Association was to cut the initiation fee from $2,000 to $1,000 in August 1930.  During this time, President Roosevelt promised a "New Deal for the forgotten man". He established the National Recovery Administration, to plan and control the U.S. Economy. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was set up to employ more than three million Americans. In 1935 as a part of his "New Deal", he established the National Social Security System, which is still in use today. Also during this time, a series of special meetings were held to discuss the industry code to be adopted under the National Recovery Act (NRA).
Also graphically described was the tax burden imposed on the industry and its employees by the recently passed Social Security Act. Despite the Depression, membership swelled to its largest level to date at 39 members in 1937. The DFA office also moved to its new home at 1 Drumm Street in San Francisco. While all of this was happening, science began to rise in prominence as the first discussions of fumigations for insects and plant sanitation inspections were held. A new apparatus for moisture determination in fruit was introduced and the Association urged its members to adopt the method in receiving and handling dried fruits. In some ways the depression still affects us today. The survivors of the depression are much more cautious of money and credit. There is also some government programs created then that are still in affect. A minimum wage was set up during the depression that continues today. Prohibition was repealed during the depression and it continues to be today. And perhaps the most important effect of the depression still lasting into today, is the increase in presidential power because of FDR's actions in office. Yet the thing that got us out of the depression didn't happen in this decade, but in the next when the U.S. entered WWII. Some other interesting highlights of the decade include: 1930: Stalin Begins Collectivizing Agriculture in the U.S.S.R. 
1931: Al Capone Imprisoned for Income Tax Evasion, Empire State Building Completed, U.S. Officially Gets National Anthem 
1932: Amelia Earhart First Woman to Fly Solo Across the Atlantic, Lindbergh's Baby Kidnapped, Zippo Lighters Introduced 1933: Adolf Hitler Becomes Chancellor of Germany, First Nazi Concentration Camp Established, Loch Ness Monster First Spotted, Prohibition Ends in the U.S. 1934: Bonnie and Clyde Killed by Police, Mao Zedong Begins the Long March, Parker Brothers Sells the Game "Monopoly" 1935: Alcoholics Anonymous Founded, Social Security Enacted in U.S. 1936: Carnegie Publishes How to Win Friends and Influence People, Hoover Dam Completed, King Edward VIII Abdicates, Nazi Olympics in Berlin 
1937: Amelia Earhart Vanishes, Golden Gate Bridge Opened, The Hindenberg Disaster, Japan Invades China 1938: Broadcast of "The War of the Worlds" Causes Panic, Hitler Annexes Austria, The Night of Broken Glass (Kristallnacht) 1939: First Commercial Flight Over the Atlantic, Helicopter Invented and World War II Begins Stay tuned for the next issue of the ACFSQ/DFA newsletter to read about the War Years (1940-1949). |
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Comments, questions or story ideas? Please contact newsletter editor Richard Cherrix at 916.561.5900 ext. 107 or richc@agfoodsafety.org  View Newsletter Archive IN THIS ISSUE Member Spotlight: Valley Fig Growers 24th European Dried Fruit Meeting ACFSQ/ DFA Board Members: Don Soetaert, Chairman Shoei Foods USA, Inc. Susan Brauner Blue Diamond Growers Sam Keiper Diamond Foods, Inc. Jack Mariani Mariani Nut Company George Sousa, Sr. Mariani Packing Company, Inc. Barry Kriebel Sun-Maid Growers of California Mark Dalrymple Sunsweet Growers Inc. Mike Emigh Valley Fig Growers Pete Turner Wilbur Packing Company SCTC Board Members: Michael Cassidy, Chairman Sun-Maid Growers of California Chip Litten CalDak International, LLC Bruce Higton California Food Connections Craig Duerr Campos Brothers Farms N. Leon Dermenjian Derco Foods Martin Mariani Mariani Nut Company Jim Zion Meridian Nut Growers, LLC Everett Golden Otis McAllister, Inc. Linda Robbins Pacific Century Trading, Inc. President’s "E" Award By Erika Tarr Known as one of the oldest and most widely trusted companies dealing in global trade of food products, Otis McAllister, Inc. is truly a shinning star. Founded in 1892 by James Otis, Jr., M. Hall McAllister and Everett N. Bee, their mission was simple: to provide their global customers the widest breadth of sources for high quality and reasonably priced foods, beverages and food ingredients and to conduct business with all suppliers and clients in an ethical manner. This practice has continued for one hundred and sixteen year history as a key company in the worldwide food industry. <read more> Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC) 2010 Ag Shipper Workshops By Erika Tarr The Specialty Crop Trade Council works closely with The Agricultural Transportation Coalition (AgTc). The AgTC monitors government and commercial activity on ocean shipping and other transportation issues and keeps AgTC members up-to-date on how these will impact their business. To view Ag Shipper Workshop Dates and Locations, please visit http://www.agtrans.org/Section.asp?article_id=1989 American Shipper <view PDF> |
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