Imagine losing your whole yield to a sudden storm! This is why I decided to go into crypto-currencies rather than farming. I always assumed that raisins had been dried in some sort of factory situation, but it sounds like they actually did try to sun-dry them, weather permitting. I bought some “cotton candy” grapes, good, but actually too sweet in my opinion. Good old Thompson Seedless, you used to be able to get those in stores, but lately I don’t see them. I love your recollection of the scent of drying grapes. I did not know that the Sun-Maid girl was based on a real person, I’ll have to look that up. Still am, to be honest, I just don’t buy them much anymore, unless I want a late-night dessert. JG, oh I was a big fan of all of those sugary cereals. Could it have been one factor in Nixon’s landslide victory? With the white dove, I guess the message was that McGovern would bring peace in Southeast Asia (maybe?), but you’re right, it could also send a negative message. I am reasonably sure that this is an official McGovern campaign pin, but I could be wrong. Thank you for pointing out the Vietcong and North Vietnam flag connection, I would have never known. And I have never seen that episode of “Bonanza” that you are referring to!Ĭhuck, hmm, that IS odd. I’m unaware of Gimbels being on the west coast, but you never know. At one time I considered trying to get complete sets of those, but… $$$. Wacky Package stickers! I love those things, and still have a handful from my childhood.

TokyoMagic!, you DO like groovy things, I know that about you. It’s possible that the Raisin Wrangler just has that 1970s cartoon ad style, but the big chin is very “Dudley Do-Right”. It might have just rattled around in a kid’s junk drawer for decades, but I like to imagine that its owner actually wore it proudly. JB, I was actually very glad to find a “NO” Trix button in good condition, and you’re right, the “YES” button is a bit scuffed. It’s impossible to think of Gimbels and Macy’s without also thinking of “Miracle on 34th Street”. Sure, raisins have sugar, but they’re still better than a candy bar (I do like the occasional candy bar, though). Nanook, I also had never heard of the Sun-Maid Raisin Wrangler. Sue, oh I was sure you were going to like the Minnegasco the best! But I admit that there is something about that Pepsi lenticular pin - too bad you can’t see it as it “moves”. Thanks Major, good stuff from the bag, awaiting more. I don’t know if any of those go to raisins or not. This was all long before the development of the red Flame Seedless variety, which is very popular today. Farming is a risky and hazardous business. Drying would finish in ovens at the packing plant, but it was costly and there was a risk of mold starting in the rolled packages. There was a huge risk of early rain spoiling the drying raisins-to-be, often there would be rush pickups to get the paper trays rolled up (much like a rug) and out of the weather ahead of a storm. The surviving wood trays were popular as home decor items with decoupage or painted scenes, but most just became kindling. Later these were replaced with disposable brown paper trays that didn’t require retrieval, cleaning and storage, but went to compost after use. Originally, the grapes were laid on wooden trays in the rows between the vines. The variety was Thompson Seedless, prized for both table and drying since there were no seeds to worry with. I vividly remember the sweet smell of drying grapes becoming raisins as we drove past those fields in the late summer and early fall. Lots of vineyards around our home went either to table grapes or raisins since it was too hot there in the Central Valley for the prime wine grapes. I don’t recall her name but google knows. She would make appearances at fairs and parades, still lovely after all the years since her portrait as a teen became the brand symbol.

I don’t remember him at all, but Sunmaid Raisins were a local Fresno company and the original Sunmaid girl was a minor celebrity. While all of the pins have some interest, I’m going with the Raisin guy. I loved Trix and ate my share, I remember this ad campaign, but by then I was too old to care.

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