About FPCA

ABOUT US

Fillmore Citrus Fruit Association On January 29, 1897, the Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Ventura County Clerk's office. A new corporation , the Fillmore Citrus Fruit Association was launched. Who led the call for a cooperative marketing among the area's citrus producers is unknown. Perhaps it was Dr. J.P. Hinckley, not only a citrus grower but the only doctor in Fillmore at the time. Maybe it was James Walker who planted several acres of Navel oranges. It could have also been David Felsenthal or J.W. Guiberson, Maybe H.M. Walker, Guy Goodrich or J.R. McKee. Each of these men were original incorporators.

Piru Citrus Association In 1914, led by David Felsenthal and C.S. Johnson, members of the Fillmore Citrus Association broke away and formed the Piru Citrus Association. Felsenthal was named president and Johnson manager. It would be 57 years before these two companies would merge to become the Fillmore-Piru Citrus Association.
MILESTONES
1888 Town of Fillmore is founded. 1889 Caswell Carl Elkins plants first commercial orange grove. 1897 Fillmore Citrus Fruit Association is formed. David Felsenthal is the first President. 1899 Fillmore Citrus affiliates with the So. California Fruit Exchange (Sunkist) for the marketing of crops. 1911 Fillmore Citrus builds lemon packinghouse. 1913 "The Big Freeze" in January hits. 1914 Piru Citrus is formed. David Felsenthal is the first president. 1916 Both Fillmore and Piru Citrus install their first washing machines. 1922 Fillmore Citrus Fruit Association celebrates 25th Anniversary. 1928 St. Francis Dam bursts killing 500 people in the Santa Clara Valley. 1939 World War II Breaks out in Europe. 1941 Fillmore Citrus Builds Labor camp for pickers. 1945 World War II Ends. 1961 F&P Growers is formed. 1964 Piru Citrus celebrates 50th anniversary. 1965 Arsonist-set blaze destroys Piru packinghouse. 1970 Russell Hardison becomes Fillmore Citrus board president. Fillmore manager Sam McMurray is killed in house fire. 1971 Fillmore Citrus and Piru Citrus merge into Fillmore-Piru Citrus Association. Russell Hardison elected President and Gilbert Nehrig named manager.	1974 Robert Pauley becomes manager of Fillmore-Piru Citrus Association. 1976 Donald E. Armstrong elected President of Fillmore-Piru Citrus Association. 1978 Ken Creason named manager of Fillmore-Piru Citrus Association. 1985 Fillmore-Piru Citrus Exchange is formed Mark S. Flippen named manager. 1990 Late December freeze destroys most of San Joaquin Valley citrus crop. 1994 Northridge earthquake registering 6.8 on the Richter scale severely damages Fillmore-Piru area. Piru packinghouse undergoes major modernization. Martha Fansler Gentry becomes first woman elected to serve on either Fillmore or Piru Citrus' Board of Directors. 1995 James B. Schieferle becomes president and general manager of FPCA. 1996 F.W. Richardson is elected chairman of the board of FPCA. 1997 Fillmore-Piru Citrus Association celebrates 100 year anniversary. 1998 Longtime rancher and FPCA director Don Armstrong is killed in house fire. 1999 Fillmore facility is sold to the City of Fillmore. Construction of new office building begins in Piru. FPCA goes online at fillmorepirucitrus.com. 2000 New office administration building completed. 2003 Martha Gentry is elected chairman of the Board of Directors. Thomas E. Hardison named President and General Manager. FPCA partners with vegetable growers and ships Tomatoes and Peppers from Piru location. 2004 Due to changes in production and marketing circumstances FPCA Grower members vote to withdraw from Sunkist Growers Inc. Affiliate with DNE as new marketing partner.	2005 Brian Edmonds is named Vice-President of Fillmore-Piru Citrus Association.