Auburndale Citrus Growers Association Packing House
A historic citrus-industry structure that preserves Florida’s agricultural heritage, this packing house represents the mechanized processing operations that transformed the state’s fruit trade in the early twentieth century.
At a glance
The Auburndale Citrus Growers Association Packing House stands as a tangible record of Florida’s citrus boom. Also identified as the Exchange Packing House or Adams Packing Co. Cold Storage Facility, the structure operated at the heart of regional fruit commerce on Orange Street.
History
The packing house emerged during Florida’s period of intensive agricultural development, when cooperatives and processing facilities became essential infrastructure for the state’s growing citrus industry. The building served as a collection and preparation point for oranges and other citrus destined for distant markets. Its designation on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997 acknowledged its importance to Auburndale’s economic and cultural past.
What you see
The packing house reflects the utilitarian design characteristic of early-twentieth-century agricultural processing facilities. Cold storage infrastructure—a critical innovation for preserving perishable fruit before refrigerated rail transport became widespread—remains central to the structure’s historic significance.
Cultural significance
The building documents a transformative era in Florida history when organized agricultural processing and cooperative marketing elevated local farmers’ prosperity and expanded the state’s economic reach. Packing houses like this one were the engines of regional development, attracting workers, investment, and railroad infrastructure to inland communities.
Key facts
- Location: 214 Orange Street, Auburndale, Florida, United States
- Coordinates: 28.06377778, -81.79066667
- National Register of Historic Places: Listed July 17, 1997
- Alternative names: Exchange Packing House, Adams Packing Co. Cold Storage Facility
Practical information & getting there
The packing house is located in Auburndale, a city in Polk County in central Florida. Visit the site to observe exterior architecture and learn about the region’s agricultural heritage. Contact local historical societies or Auburndale city offices for access details and current conditions.
Sources & resources
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