The story of a dynamic industry that dominated Lake County for more than 125 years

BEACH LAKE
Carter Fruit Company
Sign sponsored by Micheloni/Geraci family
In appreciation to all employees and growers
“Peter Micheloni wanted to sell the packing house. While he, his wife, son in law and other family members were on vacation in Italy his daughter, Jane, stayed in town to run the packing house. She located and arranged for the sale of the packing house. When the family returned from Italy, Mr. Micheloni sold his packing house (real property) in Mascotte on October 1, 1965 to the Carter’s. Leonard C. Carter was a lawyer out of Lakeland. The packing house was sold in the last quarter of 1965 and there was not enough time for the Carters to develop a label so they acquired and used the same label. It was a #1 fruit label for my grandfather and for the Carter Fruit Co. This is the BEACH LAKE label that was used by Peter Micheloni and then by Carter Fruit Company.”
From Anita Geraci as related to her by her mom Jane Micheloni Geraci
Carter Fruit Company shipped 380,000 cartons of fruit in 1971. They were one of the 16 packinghouses registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture. Carter Fruit was number 5 in the county that season in fruit shipments. The only other label that could be found was also a Micheloni one. The Carters knew the reputation that was already established for these labels so they continued to use them for their operation of the ‘former’ Micheloni packinghouse.
Other Labels Used by Carter Fruit Company
