Densho Digital Archive - Emi Yamamoto Interview (denshovh-yemi-01-0010)

<Begin Segment 10>

MA: So for you, after you sort of took over the farm and helped your father, what was, can you describe a typical day for you and what your responsibilities were on a daily basis?

EY: Oh, I get up early in the morning, and when we had the hired people help, maybe one or two people, but we used to get up, I used to get up early and make the family meal with my mother's help, and then usually when we were commuting some places, we had to make our lunch, so had a lot to do, and the younger ones have to go to school and all that. I'm the only driver. My father used to drive Model T, but I don't trust him with a gearshift car. So I did all the driving all over for the family, errands and everything, and work at the farm at the same time. And then I hauled the berries out twice a day.

MA: And take them to the depot?

EY: The depots. Like L.A. shipment, we had to catch a nine o'clock train, and then we'd go to the depot, Pajaro Depot there, and unload it there into the freight car. And ten o'clock, it ships out to L.A. for next morning's market. That's how it used to be for L.A. shipment. And San Francisco, we used to bring the trucking company, Clark Brothers. From there, they take it that evening, that evening, and then the following morning, when the market opens, that's where the berries...

MA: I see. So their main destinations for the strawberries were San Francisco and Los Angeles?

EY: Yes. And Oakland sometimes, but it's mostly San Francisco and L.A. shipment. And then during the summer, when the berries are real nice, we had our own corporation. You pick the berry little bit... not ripe berries, but a little bit green, I mean, you know, so they'll last, for eastern shipment.

MA: And where would the eastern shipments go?

EY: New York. So it takes about two to three days for the train, so you have to pick solid berries, so they last for a good market.

MA: And you said you had your own corporation?

EY: Yes.

MA: Can you talk about that a little bit?

EY: Oh, it's, well, there's all kinds, but we were in berry co-op. And it used to grow out of Sunnyvale.

MA: And was that mostly a Japanese farmers, strawberry farmers in the co-op?

EY: Yes, mostly yes. 'Til later part of the, now, they have air shipment, so it goes faster.

MA: And so would you have to go to the depot and the, every morning? Was that a daily shipment?

EY: Oh, yes.

MA: How many pounds would you be shipping every day, usually?

EY: It all depends on the amount of berry gets ripe. Because the eastern shipment, it has to be more solid than... lot of 'em go by, by air now, air freight.

MA: And would you get paid by the pound, or how would they pay you?

EY: Paid by crates. And it has to pass the inspection. If it gets a reject, it just goes to the local market. It's not worth it. So when you're picking the eastern shipment, it had to be a little solid. But then recently, because they have better...

MA: Faster transportation for berries?

EY: Transportation and the way they grew the berries. So it's a lot easier.

MA: Right.