The Bozeman courier., 1926-09-24
THE PEA CANNING
INDUSTRY YNSTATE
The Country Come from the
Gallatin Valley

Canned peas before 1888 were a luxury
to any but the wealthiest families. Peas
at that time were picked by hand in the
fields and shelled by hand in the fac
tories. The great amount of labor requir-
ed limited production and only in pOpu-
lOus centers. The average price of peas
ranged from IS cents to $1.25 per can.
In 1888 a Madam Fauere, in France, in
vented pOdding machine that would shell
the peas from the picked pods. Three years
later two Americans, Chisholm and Scott,
invented a machine that would remove the
peas from the vines, the entire crop being
cut like hay with mower loaded on Wag-
Ons and fed into the machine. Each ma
chine would replace three hundred and
fifty pickers. Since that time the pro-
ductiOn of canned peas has increased from
about one half million year to nineteen
million cases in 1926 while the price has
decreased to probable average of 20 cents
per can to the consumer.
New York, the first great pea canning
state, mas lost supremacy to Wisconsin,
which now packs half of the entire peas
canned in the United States. Indiana, Illi-
nois, Utah, California, Montana and Color
| ado, each pack two hundred and fifty
thousand to one million cases per year.
Peas require a Northern Latitude, cool
nights, plenty of dew and an abundance of
ram or water for irrigating. Pea weavel,
/ lice and root diseases are prevalent in all
! pea growing sections some seasons except
in the high mountain valleys Of Montana.
Peas were first canned in Montana by
the Stevensville Canning Company, in 1917,
and by the BOzeman Canning Company in
1918. About fifteen thousand cases were
canned by each company the first year. The
pack OF the Bozeman Canning Company
has grown to over two hundred and ninety
, thousand cases in 1925.
In addition to developing a large can
ming business the BOzeman Canning Com
pany has brought out the most profitable
crop for the farmers in the Gailatin Valley
and has made 1t possible for sixty young
men to make their expenses for college
education. Each year thousands of dollars
are spent for cans, lumber, coal, gas and
kerosene; and to farmers for the pea crops;
with these amounts increasing yearly.
Thirty to fifty thousand dollars are paid
men and women workers during the six
weeks canniGg season each year.
Ine climatic conditions, in the Gallat1n
Valley near Bozeman, are the most ideal
so Tar found. Cool nights, with no scorch.
! ing not winds, heavy black soil, and an
abundance OF pure mountain stream trrt
cation water makes crops certain each year
Peas are planted during the month o,
May and harvested from July 2Oth tt
Septembar 1st, making q packing season o.
: about forty days. This means a perioC
Of bout six weeks to pack years output
with some days running as high as pacl
Of fifteen thousand cases or three hundred
thousand cans OF peas per day during tn
! heavy run. Peas are cut, hulled by ma
J chinery, hauled in boxes by truck, and can
; ned within space Of two hours, insurinl
{ a fresh wholesome product. The adapta
! bility Of the Gallatin Valley to pea grow
e ing produces the most highly favored ant
e tender pea so FAR developed.
e Wages paid men and women at tn
k BOzeman factory average from ten to fif
a teen per cent higher than those paid Il
e factories in Utah and Wisconsin.
e Iheze Is a special standing invitatici
with the factory to visit this plant, es
e pecialy during the months OF July an
= August, when canning is at its peak an
the management calls particular attentl0
e to your most careful inspection Of tn
sanitary conditions, and every phase Of tn
+ canning industry as carried on In the fac
tory.
When you buy a can OF Bozeman Pea
e or Beans you are buying a Montana pro
+ duct, produced and brought to your tabl
:. always uniform in quality, and to put It q
the least--eQual to Eny outside canned pea
lyou could purchase. price ana quality bot
e considered.