(Palacios Beacon)  ca.September1926
 

CANNERY TO OPEN AT COLLEGEPORT
Plant Now Under Construction; Will start About September 10
 

Officials of the Crawford Packing Company of Palacios announced this week the consolidation of the Fig canning Industries in this section, when on September 1 they took over and are completing the cannery which was being installed at Collegeport by the Collegeport Packing Company, a tentative organization with headquarters at Springfield , Ill. This consolidation is considered to mean much to the packing industry in this section. 

Sell in 38 States
 

Carlton Crawford, president of the Crawford Packing Company, stated that the products of the Crawford Packing Company are being distributed in 38 states of the United States , and that a major portion of this year’s crop is already sold.  The cannery at Collegeport was started under the supervision of S. B. Sims, orchard superintendent of the Collegeport Fig Orchards Company.  Mr. Crawford complimented Mr. Sims for his efficiency in constructing the new fig plant and the promptness with which he acted in order to get the cannery ready to take care of this year’s crop on the 500 acres of the Collegeport Fig Orchards Company.  The Crawford Packing Company is a packer of figs, shrimp, tamales and chili, and has been in business in Palacios for six years, during which time its growth has been constant and its business successful.

The consolidation was arranged by the Collegeport Packing Company transferring their stock to the Crawford Packing Company.
 

Opens September 10

Mr. Crawford said his company’s Collegeport cannery will begin to operate about September 10, which will be in plenty of time to take care of the Collegeport fig crop.

W. C. Tucker, formerly superintendent of the Palacios cannery, has been transferred to the Collegeport cannery.  He announced that he will need 10 or 15 ladies to work in the cannery during the canning season.

The Collegeport Packing Company was established by Dr. W. W. VanWormer and his associates of the Collegeport Fig Orchards Company, and the cannery started in time to take care of the 1926 crop.

Seeing the great advantage through consolidation of the canning industries of this section, to the growers and stockholders, and the value of selling their figs to an established organization of good repute and wide distributing facilities, the new arrangement was made and is now in operation.

(Matagorda County Tribune) September 10, 1926

FIG CANNERY AT COLLEGEPORT TO OPEN ON FRIDAY
 

Collegeport , Texas , Sept. 9.—The Collegeport Fig Orchards Company fig cannery here, will open Friday, according to Carlton Crawford, president of the Crawford Packing Company of Palacios, who will operate the plant.

Equipment at the plant consists of a new 600-foot artesian well, steam boiler, three 175-gallon kettles, canner, vats and building with concrete floor.

W. C. Tucker, formerly of the Crawford Packing Company’s plant is in charge of operations.

The Collegeport Fig Orchards Company’s 500-acre orchard will supply most of the fruit for the cannery.  At present the figs are being taken to Palacios.  This year’s crop will be packed under the Crawford Packing Company’s label, S. B. Sims, superintendent, said.

Mr. Crawford stated that the greatest part of this year’s products is already sold, the New York Central Lines and Pennsylvania Railroad System being the largest customers.

Fig orchard one year old has produced two crops.

Rice farming became a primary business in the 1950’s