Allan Corrin, grape and tree fruit innovator, dies at 80
Allan Corrin, grape and tree fruit innovator, dies at 80
Allan Corrin, who is best known for shepherding the development of the Ruby Red seedless grape variety and launching Lunch Bunch grapes, died May 8, as a result of complications from a stroke he suffered in 2005. He was 80.
Mr. Corrin was born in California in 1927 and was raised in Long Beach, where he met his wife of 56 years, Charlene Wood. He began his career in the produce industry in 1950 on Los Angeles' Seventh Street Market at the Theron Hooker Co. He worked his way up from a truck loader to a field man, and soon opened an office for the firm in Reedley, CA, where he specialized in the grape and tree fruit deals.
In 1962, Mr. Corrin partnered with his boss and co-founded Hooker-Corrin Co. By 1971, Mr. Corrin was on his own with Corrin Produce Sales, and eventually built Corrin Cold Storage, both in Reedley, CA, where he and his family had moved in the early 1960s.
Mr. Corrin was well known as an innovator and was the main force behind bringing the Ruby Red seedless grape to market. The Ruby Red seedless produced an inordinate amount of second-cutting small bunches, which Mr. Corrin began to market to the foodservice trade under the trademarked "Lunch Bunch" designation in 1979, which was before most others in the produce trade recognized foodservice as an important segment of the industry.
He tirelessly promoted this snack item to schools all over the United States. The "Lunch Bunch" grapes were cut in two- to four-ounce bunches and sold by the lug, with 150 washed bunches to the lug.
Eventually, Mr. Corrin moved toward retirement and sold his foodservice business and the "Lunch Bunch" name to HMC Group Marketing Inc. in Kingsburg, CA. Along with the sale came Mark Givens, a longtime Corrin employee who had become the main "Lunch Bunch" salesman.
Mr. Givens said that the innovative product remains a strong niche item with sales to school districts throughout the country.
"Allan was an innovator," said Mr. Givens. "He was always trying to make something better, whether he was successful or not didn't stop him from trying."
Besides the Ruby Red seedless and "Lunch Bunch" innovations, Mr. Givens said that Mr. Corrin made his mark all over the California grape and tree fruit industry. He brought many new innovations to the field, including a European sprayer and many peach, plum, nectarine and grape varieties. He is also credited with introducing the Black Corinth champagne grape to California growers.
"At the time of his stroke 19 months ago, he was working with the Fresno State Entrepreneurs Club to launch school-specific boxes of raisins named after each school's mascot," said Mr. Givens. "From Fresno State, he wanted to market 'Bulldog Grapes,' and for LSU it would have been 'Tiger Grapes.'"
His longtime friend said that another illustration of the way Mr. Corrin thought was a not-so-successful foray into the golf shoe business.
"He found a hand-made golf shoe out of Italy that he thought was great. He worked and became the national distributor for the shoe, but it never took off. It was one of those seeds that fell between the rocks and didn't quite find fertile soil. There are probably only 20 of us that know that story, but if you mention golf shoes, it brings a smile to our faces."
He said Mr. Corrin's efforts to innovate never stalled.
Wayne Brandt of Brandt Farms Inc. in Reedley, CA, also worked with Mr. Corrin for many years and has similar memories.
"He just loved to be innovative," said Mr. Brandt. "His greatest claim to fame was probably taking the Ruby Red seedless and developing it into a major variety. But he never stopped. I know [at the time of his stroke] he was working with his nursery company trying to develop new tree fruit varieties."
Mr. Corrin was active in many industry organizations including the California Grape & Tree Fruit League, where he served as a past president and received its top honor, the Mentor's Award, in 2005.
Besides his wife, Charlene, and daughter, Deby, Mr. Corrin is survived by a brother.
Mr. Corrin was born in California in 1927 and was raised in Long Beach, where he met his wife of 56 years, Charlene Wood. He began his career in the produce industry in 1950 on Los Angeles' Seventh Street Market at the Theron Hooker Co. He worked his way up from a truck loader to a field man, and soon opened an office for the firm in Reedley, CA, where he specialized in the grape and tree fruit deals.
In 1962, Mr. Corrin partnered with his boss and co-founded Hooker-Corrin Co. By 1971, Mr. Corrin was on his own with Corrin Produce Sales, and eventually built Corrin Cold Storage, both in Reedley, CA, where he and his family had moved in the early 1960s.
Mr. Corrin was well known as an innovator and was the main force behind bringing the Ruby Red seedless grape to market. The Ruby Red seedless produced an inordinate amount of second-cutting small bunches, which Mr. Corrin began to market to the foodservice trade under the trademarked "Lunch Bunch" designation in 1979, which was before most others in the produce trade recognized foodservice as an important segment of the industry.
He tirelessly promoted this snack item to schools all over the United States. The "Lunch Bunch" grapes were cut in two- to four-ounce bunches and sold by the lug, with 150 washed bunches to the lug.
Eventually, Mr. Corrin moved toward retirement and sold his foodservice business and the "Lunch Bunch" name to HMC Group Marketing Inc. in Kingsburg, CA. Along with the sale came Mark Givens, a longtime Corrin employee who had become the main "Lunch Bunch" salesman.
Mr. Givens said that the innovative product remains a strong niche item with sales to school districts throughout the country.
"Allan was an innovator," said Mr. Givens. "He was always trying to make something better, whether he was successful or not didn't stop him from trying."
Besides the Ruby Red seedless and "Lunch Bunch" innovations, Mr. Givens said that Mr. Corrin made his mark all over the California grape and tree fruit industry. He brought many new innovations to the field, including a European sprayer and many peach, plum, nectarine and grape varieties. He is also credited with introducing the Black Corinth champagne grape to California growers.
"At the time of his stroke 19 months ago, he was working with the Fresno State Entrepreneurs Club to launch school-specific boxes of raisins named after each school's mascot," said Mr. Givens. "From Fresno State, he wanted to market 'Bulldog Grapes,' and for LSU it would have been 'Tiger Grapes.'"
His longtime friend said that another illustration of the way Mr. Corrin thought was a not-so-successful foray into the golf shoe business.
"He found a hand-made golf shoe out of Italy that he thought was great. He worked and became the national distributor for the shoe, but it never took off. It was one of those seeds that fell between the rocks and didn't quite find fertile soil. There are probably only 20 of us that know that story, but if you mention golf shoes, it brings a smile to our faces."
He said Mr. Corrin's efforts to innovate never stalled.
Wayne Brandt of Brandt Farms Inc. in Reedley, CA, also worked with Mr. Corrin for many years and has similar memories.
"He just loved to be innovative," said Mr. Brandt. "His greatest claim to fame was probably taking the Ruby Red seedless and developing it into a major variety. But he never stopped. I know [at the time of his stroke] he was working with his nursery company trying to develop new tree fruit varieties."
Mr. Corrin was active in many industry organizations including the California Grape & Tree Fruit League, where he served as a past president and received its top honor, the Mentor's Award, in 2005.
Besides his wife, Charlene, and daughter, Deby, Mr. Corrin is survived by a brother.
