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View of Cowell's Big Trees - Author's Personal Collection

It was a long tradition at Big Trees Grove and later, also at Cowell’s Big Trees, that some visiting groups received the honor of having a redwood dedicated to their organization whether that be a fraternal group, church or business. In 1913 one visitor commented on the frequency and growing absurdity of the tree naming tradition, stating that some of them bore rather unusual names. Among the names which perplexed him was one

"…[d]edicated to the Los Angeles Produce Exchange by the San Francisco Dairy and Fruit Exchange … I pondered these inexplicable labels for some time, and could only conclude that they were examples of the same pitiful ambition that Hamlet observed in a certain kind of players."

Perhaps it was during the May 1911 visit of California’s produce men that this unique tree name was bestowed.

"The annual high jinks of the Produce Men’s Association of California came to a grand finale yesterday and, to use the popular slogan of Santa Cruz, there was ‘never a dull moment’ … At 11 o’clock, accompanied by a band, they boarded a special train and visited the big trees."

"After an hour’s ramble the party assembled at the banquet board. Plates were laid for 400 guests. It was an old fashioned al fresco repast. The meats were barbecued. Responses to toasts were many and resounded with expressions of approbation for the first outing of this character ever held by the association. After the tables had been vacated dancing, games and other amusements were indulged in."

Sources: “Produce Men Close the Annual Convention,” May 22 - San Jose Mercury-News, May 23, 1911; Chase, J. Smeaton. California Coast Trails: A Horseback Ride from Mexico to Oregon by Smeaton J. Chase, 1913.