1858-1950: Railroad and orchards
Crozet Cold Storage and the Fruit Growers Express
Refrigerated storage, more than any other piece of infrastructure, made Crozet's commercial orchard economy possible.
Crozet Cold Storage opened in 1929, providing the warehouse space needed to hold apples and peaches between harvest and shipment. The C&O Railway's "Fruit Growers Express" rail cars, refrigerated by ice, carried Crozet fruit across the country.
The combination of orchards, cold storage, and refrigerated rail allowed western Albemarle to ship to markets it had never reached before. The fruit packing industry employed hundreds in the region throughout the early and mid twentieth century. The Cold Storage facility itself would later become Crozet's industrial flagship under Morton Frozen Foods.
Frequently asked questions
What period does Crozet Cold Storage and the Fruit Growers Express cover?
This entry covers the 1858-1950: Railroad and orchards period of Crozet, Virginia history. See the History page for the broader chronological frame, including Claudius Crozet, the Blue Ridge Tunnel, the orchard era, and the modern planned-community phase.
Where can I learn more about Crozet Cold Storage and the Fruit Growers Express?
The Crozet Library local-history collection, Albemarle County records, and the Crozet Gazette archives are the best starting points for deeper research on Crozet history. The /history landing page links to additional entries organized by era.
Is this an authoritative history?
Claudius Crozet synthesizes from public sources rather than producing original archival research. For academic citation, work from the primary sources listed below the article. We aim for accurate dates and verifiable facts, but encourage readers to confirm against the original record.