Thomas Russell Merrill, known as T.R., founded Merrill Farms in 1933.

Thomas Russell Merrill, known as T.R., founded Merrill Farms in 1933.

Arial view of Union Ice String , West market Street, Salinas

Arial view of Union Ice String, West market Street, Salinas

Merrill Packing Company began in 1933

Merrill Packing Company began in 1933

Ice Injection method used for cooling produce.

Ice Injection method used for cooling produce.

Vacuum cooling played a major role in quality control and allowed produce to be packed directly in the field.

Vacuum cooling played a major role in quality control and allowed produce to be packed directly in the field.

T.R. and others inspecting crops in the field.

T.R. and others inspecting crops in the field.

Interior view of Lettuce Farm Packing Plant. Employees graded and packaged lettuce.

Interior view of Lettuce Farm Packing Plant. Employees graded and packaged lettuce.

A lettuce farm train en route to a packing shed.

A lettuce farm train en route to a packing shed.

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This photo gallery highlights milestones while capturing a historical prospective on the life of Central Coast farming.

History

•Merrill Packing Company founded by T.R. Merrill

•Brands with the Merrill Farms, Frisco, Cheerio and Circle M labels are distributed

•T.R. Merrill purchases a large plot of land

•Grower's Ice is founded by T.R. Merrill, Gene Harden, Ken Nutting and Bruce Church

•In addition to lettuce, Merrill Packing Company begins growing celery, sugar beets and carrots

•Merrill Farms grows so large it became essential to split into two separate entities. Merrill Farms is created for the farming of produce and Merrill Packing became responsible for the cooling and packaging of crops

•Merrill Farms Inc is founded in 1954

•Cardboard boxes and vacuum cooling revolutionizes the produce industry

•Merrill Farms Inc. acquires 100% ownership of Grower's Ice

•Merrill Farms Inc. doubles in production

•Merrill Farms Inc. ceases distribution of Merrill Farms, Frisco, Cheerio and Circle M brands

•Merrill Farms Inc. departs from the crop production market

•Ross Merrill becomes President/CEO

•Merrill Farms LLC is founded and focused all its operations exclusively to growing

•Merrill Farms names Allan Clark President/COO