| The
W.R. Roach cannery was a very significant factor in the lives of
the residents of Croswell and the farmers in the thumb area. During
its operation, the cannery as the largest pea canning facility in
the world. It was distinguished as one of the first all-automatic
pea canning factories in the country and was believed to be the
only cannery in which continuous operation was used in processing
its products. During one, fifteen-hour record setting run, the cannery
produced 30,000 cases of canned peas with 24 cans in each case.
A wide variety of fruits and vegetables including berries, sweet
corn, carrots, red beets, and string beans were also processed at
the plant.
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