ME...the last Sun-Maid Raisin Girl

Ranked #216 in Squidoo Community, #31,916 overall

and how it all came about...

The TRUE short story of how this all came about...that I'm featured on the Sun-Maid Raisin Box since 1970.

When people learn about me and this image...they say, "Wow you are famous!" and I reply, no I'm not famous but the image is world renowned. I'm not known as the first Sun-Maid raisin girl from 1915...however, I am the 1970 updated published version.

This is just something that came into my path many years ago, and no matter what, I can proudly say, "Yes, that Is Me" on the box now.

The Story about me featured on the Sun-Maid Raisin Box

a look in the past...

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Around 1960-61 I worked for Fiberboard Paper Products in San Francisco as an elevator operator and file clerk. One day I was called to the art department, and because I had an interest in getting into the art department, I thought they wanted to find out about my art interests...so I went. I was asked by the artist for a favor, and that was, to hold a tray and draw my hands.

Thinking nothing of this, I volunteered and held the tray...the artist sketched the image and was telling me about the changes being made to the Sun-Maid image and the package, they were modernizing it, "more importantly, it was to be kept with the same recognizable pose."

When I went back to the art department I saw the painting, I was surprised to see it looked like me...being a freelance model I didn't think much about it. Some of my co-workers then called me the raisin-gal...I thought it was funny.

After leaving Fiberboard to pursue my Modeling, I never saw the image for years. Then one day in 1970 my mother called and said, I was at the store and saw the Sun-Maid package and your picture was on it! Well of course I had to go buy a box.

1965

For years I had talked about it, wondering if Sunmaid knew about me. So when I got a computer I emailed the Company asking if they knew about me, but all I got back was a reply saying, "thank you for offering to pose for the box, we have an image that will be there for a while!" I had to laugh!

In 1999 the local newspaper did a story on the Sun-Maid image and me. The reporter contacted the Company but no one there ever heard of me. Being made to feel like I was making up a story, I felt very unsettled. Determined to get things straightened out I contacted Sun-Maid Growers of California and told them my story, they replied with a call and some mail information for my curiosity.

As time went by we did phone tags and emails, then one day I was invited to Kingsburg (near Fresno) to meet with the President of the company. My husband and I made the journey February 2006, we had a wonderful meeting and after much research they welcomed me as the image on the box.

It's a good feeling to know I have resolved something I thought and talked about for many years...it is a good thing.

Although the image has changed with the times, the Sunmaid trademark design has always been based on the original pose by Lorraine Collett Petersen 1915.

This lens has many images, including some old modeling photos below the guestbook...so please refresh the page to have all images appear.

Al Pacheco, Gary Marshburn, me and Company President Barry Kriebel... 

left 1963 - right 1961 

The intro image above enlarged....yes, I had dark hair!

I still have people thinking this is a joke, no this is the true story about me and my image on the box featured at this time...

Sharing a short story about an old Sun-Maid box...

what a nice thing to do...

the gift of an old box

Several years ago we drove back to California for a vacation. Then on our way back we stopped in a small mining town in Colorado, visiting an Antique shop...there I found an old Sun-Maid raisin box that for many years I have been looking for. This box had the image of Ms.Peterson from a long time ago... asking how much the small box was, I was informed it was Not For Sale, just on display...I told him the story of how I looked for this image before mine was on the box. I requested, if he ever finds another one to let me know.

About a year later I received a small package, in it was the box I had looked at in the Colorado Antique Store, with a note inside explaining, "this really belongs to you." I was so thrilled with this kind gesture, not even knowing this man...so indeed I am very grateful to him for this gift.
What a nice thing to do!

Sun-Maid Girl on a Calendar

Violet Oliver (Geissinger) story, incuding her baseball star husband Earl Whitehill

Violet Oliver (Geissinger)

A nice gentleman named Gary Neveln contacted me on Facebook, he is related as a distant cousin to the baseball player Earl Whitehill who married the Sunmaid Girl on the calendar, Violet Oliver (Geissinger)
He sent me the following link to the story of Earl and Violet.
The Baseball Biography Project.

Ads and Posters of the Past

Featuring Sun-Maid maidens

Here are Art Versions

of the Sun-Maid Girl

My Personal Collection

of SunMaid items

My Sun-Maid finds...

Vehicle Banks

Wanted items:

at reasonable prices

Let me know if you run across items with my image on it... like a lunch box, dolls, postcards, or any other unusual items that are reasonably priced...
Please contact me.

My Lens of The Day aka LOTD for the Sun-Maid Girl Raisin Girl lens! It is very much appreciated....Thank You!

A Purple Star for the Sun-Maid Girl Raisin Girl lens!
Thank you for the nomination and all the kind comments...

100th Anniversary Book for Sun-Maid

download FREE

FREE eBook Download...click here

Download a FREE E-reader or a PDF book Sun-Maid Anniversary eBook download

The 100th Anniversary Book pertains to history of the Sun-Maid, also answers to all your questions about the growing, producing and the marketing of raisins and dried fruits.

Blessings from Squid Angels

Thank You so much!

Thank You!

Amkatee 4/12
TheLifestyleChanger 4/12
rainbowruffles 3/12
agalova 3/12
ravenko 3/12
23squidoo 3/12
Writingnag 3/12
JoshK47 2/12
tvyps 2/12
DANCINGCOWGIRLDESIGN 2/12
Graceonline 2/12
goo2eyes 2/12
Lifeboost 2/12
GrammaLinda 2/12
Ladymermaid (10/10)1/12
kathysart 1/12
pkmcr 1/12
TravelingRae 1/12
24websurf 1/12
Tipi 11/11
miaponzo 11/11
jeffryv 10/11
kiwinana71 10/11
Ramkitten 8/11
blanckj 8/11
catbehaviors 4/11
Light-in-me 2/11
genglo 1/11
Blessedmombygrace 1/11
hotbrain 12/10
Nightowl_John 12/10
javrsmit 12/10
Craftyville 11/10
michelle89 10/10
alteredkat 10/10
KathyMcGraw 10/10
Fitzcharming 10/10
skiesgreen 6/10
bdkz 6/10
HorseAndPony 6/10
WeddingZazzle 4/10
theraggededge 4/10
arncyn 1/10
24websrf 12/09
OhMe 11/09
KimGiancaterino 6/09
EverythingMouse 1/09
JaguarJulie 8/08
SemperFideles 8/08
webnh 4/08

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Love to hear your feedback and/or your opinion....

I have so thoroughly enjoyed hearing from readers about this lens and my venture with Sun-Maid...come back I'm always adding new discoveries
scroll down for MORE pictures, lots to share.

  • orangegirl6020 May 30, 2012 @ 8:21 pm | delete
    This is such an interesting story! Thank you for sharing.
  • veryirie May 26, 2012 @ 10:25 pm | delete
    This was a joy to read. What a wonderful story!
  • SoundFinance May 26, 2012 @ 12:32 am | delete
    What a great story and lens:) I've enjoyed reading about it.
  • SoundFinance May 25, 2012 @ 11:21 pm | delete
    What a great story!
  • Kimbesa May 20, 2012 @ 12:00 am | delete
    What a great story, and collection. Awesome! Thanks for sharing it!
  • AlleyCatLane May 19, 2012 @ 9:45 pm | delete
    This is so cool! Congratulations on your LOTD and Purple Star.
  • Kapalbility May 9, 2012 @ 3:46 am | delete
    I have been here and revisited. :) I am still astounded. You have a classic beauty! :)
  • Amkatee Apr 29, 2012 @ 2:40 pm | delete
    awesome. My cousin's grandmother was the model for a now out of business maple syrup company that her family owned. I wish I had kept a bottle when it was still selling in stores. I love your story.
  • robert-margetts Apr 23, 2012 @ 10:05 am | delete
    Wow, the sun-maid girl. Not only are you extremely talented, but your image has appeared all over the world. That was fun to read. i just wanted to thank you for all the nice comments that you left on my lenses. It's really good to find other animal lovers out there. (funny story; many years ago I lived in Taiwan; I did the voices for many spencer toys; hallmark greeting cards; top gun toys; talking clocks; computer games, etc. And, my son did the commercials for Klenix in Asia back in 1992)
  • Rankography Apr 21, 2012 @ 8:52 am | delete
    You have quite an interesting history.
  • goldenrulecomics Apr 9, 2012 @ 9:10 pm | delete
    very cool!
  • DarleneN Apr 5, 2012 @ 2:56 pm | delete
    My goodness, what a COOL story! I never knew the picture of the Sun Maid Raisin Girl was based on a real person.
  • Apr 4, 2012 @ 7:27 pm | delete
    While completing our quest "homework", we found your interesting raisingal story. We use 1 cup for of Sun Maid Rasins for our cuban bread pudding recipe. Interesting story...Raisinga!
  • TheLifestyleChanger Apr 3, 2012 @ 8:30 pm | delete
    This is such a wonderful story. Easter blessings to you.
  • Sheila Octaviano Apr 1, 2012 @ 10:44 pm | delete
    I don't have anything with a picture, but I do have a really old wooden raisin box from Sun Maid that says, "Baker's Wednesday Special" and on the side it says, "Raisin Day puts two Saturdays in every week." It is one of my favorite things. It was actually made into a drawer and I have left the runners and knob on it. I enjoyed your story.
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The commercial image of a modern Sun-Maid Girl

the Modern day animated image...

Videos of Sun-Maid

KINGSBURG CALIFORNIA Visiting the Sun-Maid Store - Delivering Gifts of Good Taste since 1912
by garvey200 | video info

2 ratings | 610 views
automatically generated by YouTube

Sunmaiden Commercial Controversy?

why!?

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Because of the re-energized controversy about the Sun-Maid Raisin girl in the commercials, I have had inquiries about the image change...quite frankly I would not know of a change, the only change I'm aware of is the Hollywood-tized maiden selling grapes in a commercial. Unfortunately there are some people out there that don't like the change...I find it interesting since the commercials have been out for a couple of years (see below April 23, 2006).

When a new commercial was released this controversy started again. Personally I think it's just a meaningless argument and more about opinions. There are those that have a problem with an identifiable product image and change, be it Coca Cola or any other identifiable product.

I think the girl in the commercial is cute although a bit Julia Roberts, but hey, it's a new image of an old gal (oops that would be me!)

What bothers me more then anything else, is when someone makes a comment that is downright rude, crude and vulgar...really, there's no need for that, after all it's an animated image! There are way too many problems in the world that need to be taken care of and worried about then have a controversy about the Sun-Maid image. The good thing that will come out of this controversy, is that Sun-Maid will be selling a lot more products.

OK, I'll stop with the sermon...all this is just my opinion.

Sun-Maid Links

interesting History of SunMaid Growers of California and other stories
some History
The Sun-Maid girl trademark was inspired by a real person - Lorraine Collett Petersen, who in 1915 lived in the Fresno, California, area where the company began its operations. Life then was simpler, less hectic - and red sunbonnets were the fashion.
Sun-Maid Girl
Our History
Sun-Maid Girl
Many people want to know if a real person was the original "Sun-Maid girl." The answer is "Yes," and her name was Lorraine Collett Petersen in 1915
Seth.com | The Sun-Maid Raisin Girl
This photograph shows Sun-Maid Raisin Girl Violet Geissinger and her husband, Detroit Tiger pitcher Earl Whitehill, at a Los Angeles ball yard in the late 1920s.
all about the Sun-Maid Girl
This is the page where I am mentioned...
JaeElle's World Home Blog
I live in a small California town called Selma.  There is a town, just 10 miles south of me, called Kingsburg and is the home of Sun-Maid Raisin.
Marguerite Namara
This is an interesting fact I never knew...
William Banks, a successful businessman, who had invented a new process for drying raisins began to deal extensively with the Sun-Maid Company. He had a photograph taken of his daughter holding a basket of raisins, which gave Sun-Maid the idea of using a girl's picture on their boxes. The company bought his photo and Marguerite became the first Sun-Maid raisin girl. 
The Sun-Maid Raisin Girl
The Sun-Maid Raisin Girl Arguably one of the hottest women to grace food packaging (all while wearing a bonnet), the Sun-Maid Raisin Girl also has the distinction of being based on a real person:...

Internet articles

Vintage Allies (VAV!) Features December Artist/Creator Delia Pacheo - Dreamers Into Doers -- marthastewart.com
Vintage Allies (VAV!) proudly announces our Featured Artist and Creator for December, Delia von Meyer Pacheco.Delia is an Artist of unparalleled talent.
VAV! December Featured Artist And Creator | Monthly Features
Vintage Allies
Starlight Reporter: December Artist for Vintage Allies- Delia Pacheco
Starlight Reporter Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Squidoo Lens Reviews
Promoting the best Squidoo writers and lensmasters.
Here are some real ODD places you will find the SunMaid gal being discussed...
Oh my!
The Baseball Biography Project.
The Link to the story about baseball star Earl Whitehill and his wife Violet Oliver Sumaid model
Joe Posnanski » Posts A Homer His First Time Up! «
Joe Posnanski - Curiously Long Posts...
What an odd place to find someone writing about the SunMaid girl, but it had to do with the Baseball player I mentioned for Viola.
Written - JayarJackson
Now here is another odd place to find a discussion about the SunMaid girl!
JayarJackson
HomeWrittenPoliticsInteresting...Very InterestingSpeaking the Truth on TYTRandom
Has the SunMaid raisin girl become a slut?
WOW what people will take the time to discuss...amazing!
-Ana's blog here: http://www.examiner.com/x-5445-Politics-in-Education-Examiner (TheYoungTurks)

Images of my Modeling days

some good some bad

childhood modeling

I modeled off and on since childhood and some of these photos now seem a bit weird to look at, the hair and the cloths...interestingly enough it's all coming back, but not for me! Been there done that!

I wish I had all my modeling photo composites, but I lost them over the years from moving so many times.

Some of the photos on the right are just a few that bring back memories modeling years ago. Maybe I will get the courage to post more in the near future.

A Blast from the Past are the funny ones...like the local advertisements.

Blast from the Past...

Funny or Fun to look at!

Older Modeling ads and photo

Libby's Fruit Cocktail and My Hand

me at 12 or 13 years old San Francisco Cal.

For over 40 years I looked for this Libby's Fruit Cocktail ad. When I posed for this ad my age was around 12-13 years old during the time I lived in San Francisco...I actually found this ad in a Wisconsin Antique Store...does that mean I'm an antique?

Northern California New Homes Magazine

on the cover

My first child was just born when I modeled for this...Northern California New Homes assignments were one of my favorite places to model, I had done quite a few for them. I enjoyed working with the photographer DelCarlo from San Jose "DelCarlo Photography"

New Homes

another one for the New Homes in California

the Ad

Find and collect Sun-Maid memorabilia

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SunMaid on Amazon

try all those wonderful flavored Raisins, especially the Chocolate covered ones

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posters - ads

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All stories and writings, including images are protected by the Copyrights Law and may not be taken or used in any way....All Rights Reserved: Delia Pacheco

My Lenses on Family

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art by delia

 

Originally Created on 11/29/2006

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d-artist

I use to have darker hair and lived in San Francisco California, there I worked for a company that made the boxes for the SunMaid Growers of California.... more »

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