History

This is a story of a business enterprise. It started on the 12th of September 1913, when four prominent Niagara Peninsula fruit growers met at the home of Mr. Alonzo H. Culp to discuss the formation of a co-operative fruit company.

Besides Mr. Culp, who was to become the first president of the Co-operative, there were in attendance at that meeting Mr. Ezra Honsberger, Mr. Norman P. Moyer and Mr. Melvin Honsberger. In addition to these growers was a Mr. Walter M. Gayman, a local school teacher who joined the group and became the first managing director of the company.

Writing their own by-laws, these pioneers applied for a government charter. The authorized capital was $10,000, consisting of 400 shares valued at $25.00 each. Five men subscribed to shares to the value of $2,100 and arrangements were made at the bank for $500 credit. It is of interest to note that the total original organizational expenses amounted to just $14.00.

With this foundation, Vineland Growers' Co-operative was ready for business in the spring of 1914.

On the 8th day of June, 1914 Vineland Growers' Co-operative's first business transaction occurred when five crates of strawberries were received from the farm of Melvin Honsberger. This first shipment was forwarded to G.W. Duncan in North Bay and Clemes Brother in Toronto. The amount of the sale was $14.63.

As time went on business improved and it wasn't long until the Co-operative was paying dividends of seven per cent per annum on stock held in the company. As a matter of fact the dividend became so attractive that people were holding stocks in the company long after their families discontinued fruit growing. This was discouraged and interest paid on stocks was gradually reduced until 1930 when interest payments ceased altogether.

Since that time the Co-operative has made a "patronage return" to its members based on the amount of business transacted through the company during a fiscal year. Sales and patronage returns have shown a steady increase with the odd exception from 1915 until the present day.

The history of Vineland Growers' Co-operative closely parallels the development of the co-operative movement in Canada. The original directors and those who have followed throughout the years have been steeped in the spirit of co-operation, coming as they did from hardy Pennsylvania stock that immigrated to Canada in the early 1800's, when barn-raisings and other co-operative activities were commonplace.

Although these early Pennsylvania families have provided the nucleus for the Co-operative, other progressive settlers from the British Isles and Europe came to the area following the First World War and have made a significant contribution to the development of Vineland Growers Co-operative Limited.

From the four founding members and the original managing director in 1913, the company has grown steadily. From 28 members in 1919, to over 300 members in 2003.