<p>Index Fresh, a leader in packing and marketing of avocados, is going to be celebrating its 100th birthday, according to a press release.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">According to Index Fresh's President and CEO, Dana Thomas, the company has a long and interesting history.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">"We were founded by California growers and remain grower owned," stated Thomas. "That’s a unique strength that has served us well during our first one hundred years and helps us understand the business of avocados from the California growers’ perspective."<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">In 1914, Index Orchards was started in Orange County as a way for California citrus growers to pack their own fruit.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The first packing house was built at a rail line crossing known as De Moines Station, at the base of the La Habra hills. The railroads allowed California produce to be shipped to eastern markets.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">“Index Orchards reported quick and profitable growth in those early years. It became a cooperative and was renamed Index Mutual in 1929,” said Thomas.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Quite by accident, Index had located itself next to La Habra Hills, where the Hass avocado variety was first developed. Rudolph Hass had planted a tree from unknown avocado parent stock that unintentionally produced a different variety. In 1939, he patented the black skin variety and named it after himself.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Avocado growers started the United Avocado Growers in the La Habra Hills. Board members sat on both boards and in the 1950s Index Mutual absorbed the United Avocado Growers.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">By the 1970s, avocados had become the main product handled by Index. In 1988 the packing house was destroyed by a fire, which prompted a move to Bloomington, California, where a new state-of-the art plant was built in 1989.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The company changed its name to Index Fresh in 1990 and continued packing and marketing avocados from California growers.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Due to national demand for avocados, Index began to import South American Avocados in 1991. To this day, the company provides avocados year-round.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">In 1999, Index voted to convert itself from a cooperative to a corporation with cooperative members becoming shareholders. This move was followed by the expansion of its packing house in 2003 and 2004. During 2013, Index moved into its new sales and administration offices in downtown Riverside.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Today, Index markets avocados under the AvoTerra, AvoSol and AvoLoma labels. Bagged avocados are sold under the AvoBuddies program that promotes the flavor, health benefits and convenience of avocados.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Index Fresh, Inc. is still owned by avocado growers and markets avocados from California, Mexico, Chile and Peru.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Index supplies avocados to major retailers and large food service companies throughout America, and exports to Canada and Asia.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Congratulations to Index Fresh on a long and prosperous history. Happy 100th birthday!<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.indexfresh.com/" target="_new"> Index Fresh </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
