ME...the last Sun-Maid Raisin Girl
Ranked #99 in Squidoo Community, #14,099 overall
and how it all came about...
When people learn about me and this image...they say, "Wow you are famous!" and I reply, no I'm not famous 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...
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 my mother called and said, I was at the store and saw the SunMaid package and your picture was on it! Well of course I had to go buy a box, this was in 1970.
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 Sunmaid 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 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, myself and Company President Barry Kriebel...
left 1963 - right 1961
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...
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!
Old box of Sun-Maid sent to me
Old Calendar of Violet Oliver
Sun-Maid Girl on the Calendar above
Violet Oliver(Geissinger) story, incuding her baseball star husband Earl Whitehill
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
of Sun-Maid maidens
My Personal Collection
of SunMaid items
Sun-Maid Tin Sign large
My Sun-Maid finds...
Vehicle Banks
Wanted:
SunMaid collectible items
If you run across a lunch box, doll or postcard with the Sun-Maid raisin girl on it, or any other unusual items that are reasonably priced...
Please contact me.
Madame Alexander Sun-Maid Doll
Rare advertisment doll
1987 Sun-Maid Bank on ebay
Art Versions
of the Sun-Maid Girl
These are painting in the Fresno, Ca. Sun-Maid Office
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...
Blessings from Squid Angels
Thank You so much!
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
OK here you can LIKE the lens!
just click...
This module only appears with actual data when viewed on a live lens. The favorite and lensroll options will appear on a live lens if the viewer is a member of Squidoo and logged in.
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.
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ErinElise Feb 12, 2012 @ 5:59 pm | delete
- Hi,
I really liked your lens and thought it was very well-written and so cute! I love your pictures! Thank you for sharing. : )
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Graceonline
Feb 11, 2012 @ 8:20 pm | delete
- What a delightful story! I am sorry you were never paid for posing for the image. I hope models are better compensated these days!
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naheedahsan
Feb 9, 2012 @ 1:15 pm | delete
- What a great story!
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chromegrrrl
Feb 9, 2012 @ 1:11 pm | delete
- Super cool! I will definitely keep my eyes open for you when I go collectible shopping.
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Morgannafay
Feb 8, 2012 @ 4:52 pm | delete
- I saw the likeness the moment I saw your old pic and the box! I said, "holy cow, she is the sun maid raisin girl! This is way too cool! <3 Super read here.
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goo2eyes
Feb 6, 2012 @ 6:54 pm | delete
- nice to meet you raisin lady. just coming back to sprinkle some squidangel *blessings* along your way.
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TransplantedSoul
Feb 5, 2012 @ 10:18 am | delete
- What a cool and unique story!
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Lifeboost
Feb 5, 2012 @ 1:45 am | delete
- Fabulously interesting lens! And well done for following it through all those years to get it officially confirmed! Blessed. :)
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GrammaLinda
Feb 2, 2012 @ 2:27 pm | delete
- It's been a while since I read this lens, but I had to come back and sprinkle some Angel Blessings.
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kimark421
Jan 31, 2012 @ 9:14 am | delete
- Wow! I have looked at you for years, and now I finally get to meet you. Well, sort of.
Great lens! I really enjoyed it.
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collettehrock
Jan 31, 2012 @ 5:52 am | delete
- I just love the art work that they use to use, these sort of things make excellent decor pieces, I was on Pinterest the other day and some one had pinned old magazine covers, so beautiful I really enjoyed reading this and congratulations on being the Sun-Maid girl
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artbyrodriguez
Jan 30, 2012 @ 3:58 pm | delete
- Very interesting lens to go through. I enjoyed it.
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flicker
Jan 30, 2012 @ 10:16 am | delete
- I really enjoyed your real-life story! Very interesting.
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Mistel
Jan 28, 2012 @ 4:06 pm | delete
- How cool! :D I guess I never considered that anyone had actually modelled for that picture, but it makes total sense. Your story is really interesting, thanks for sharing
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Ladymermaid
Jan 22, 2012 @ 6:57 pm | delete
- My first sprinkling of angel dust on this lens has long worn off so I am back once again to scatter a little more.
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Was this lens on Sun-Maid helpful to you?
did you learn anything new about the Sun-Maid Raisin girl?
Sunmaiden Commercial Controversy?
why!?
Because of the recently 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).
Recently a new commercial was released, and 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, 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. and there are way too many problems in the world that need to be taken care of and worried about...The good thing that will come out of this controversy, is that Sun-Maid will be selling a lot more products.
Here at this blog are over 250 comments, what an incredible waste of time and energy to express all that negativity...OK, I will stop with the sermon...all this is just my opinion.
Sun-Maid Links
- 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.
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
blast from the past...funny or fun to look at!
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.
The photos here are just a few that bring back memories of years gone by. Maybe I will get the courage to post more in the near future.
Some older Modeling ads and photo
Libby's Fruit Cocktail & My Hand
I looked for this Libby's Fruit Cocktail ad for over 40 years...I was about 13/14 years old when I modeled my hand for this ad in San Francisco...I actually found this 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
Shaklee Products brochure
circa: 1966-67
One of the brochure ads for Shaklee Products when I worked for them...wow...this is hoot!!
Find and collect Sun-Maid memorabilia
SunMaid on Amazon
try all those wonderful flavored Raisins, especially the Chocolate covered ones
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
Originally Created on 11/29/2006
by 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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