California's climate and geography divide the state into a number of diverse and productive subregions, each with its own specialty crops, economy and cultural identity. Yet, ever since journalist Carey McWilliams coined the phrase "factories in the field", students of California agriculture have largely characterized speciality crop growers in monolithic terms - as people devoid of any ideology or culture except the desire to cut costs and maximize profits. In the early years, every grower was not in fact like every other, ...
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California's climate and geography divide the state into a number of diverse and productive subregions, each with its own specialty crops, economy and cultural identity. Yet, ever since journalist Carey McWilliams coined the phrase "factories in the field", students of California agriculture have largely characterized speciality crop growers in monolithic terms - as people devoid of any ideology or culture except the desire to cut costs and maximize profits. In the early years, every grower was not in fact like every other, David Vaught argues, whether one examines their labour systems, recruiting methodds, harvest needs, marketing strategies, farm size, or their relationships with their communites, unions and the state. In this work, Vaught shows how fruit and nut growers were neither industrialists nor agrarians. From the outset, he explains, these "horticulturalists" saw themselves as guardians of California's unique culture - raising crops for market while self-consciously building healthy and prosperous communities. The hard work, foresight and devotion to detail required to nurture an orchard or vineyard made them, they insisted, cultivators of a better society. This heightened self-image gained credence as California became synonymous, in the minds of millions of Americans, with fresh fruit and produce. Over time, Vaught concludes, labour relations, seasonal and other pressures beyond their control, the vagaries of distant markets and their own racial ambivalence undermined the growers' horticultural ideal.
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Seller's Description:
Very Good. 1999. Hardcover. Cloth, dj. Slight shelf wear. Scuffing, bumping, and closed tears to jacket. Very Good. (Subject: Americana & Regional History).
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Seller's Description:
Very Good in Very Good jacket. Hardcover with dustjacket. Cover clean with and sharp. Interior clean, binding tight. Jacket gently rubbed on rear panel.
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Seller's Description:
Fine in Fine dust jacket. 0801862213. As New. Illustrated with black-and-white photographs and maps. The dust jacket is protected by a Brodart mylar cover and is not clipped. Not an ex-library copy. No remainder marks. No names or marks in the text. Most books shipped within 24 hours. All books mailed with Delivery Confirmation. Fine condition in fine dust jacket. A volume in the Revisiting Rural America series.; Revisiting Rural America; B&W Illustrations and Maps; 8vo.; 280 pages.
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Seller's Description:
Good in good jacket. Illus. 8vo, blue cloth, d.w. dampstained, some bottom margins near end are wrinkled from exposure to dampness, but not dampstained. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, (1999).
