1940s Original Delite Citrus Crate Label | Florida Valentine Couple County, Lithograph

Before supermarkets. Before plastic wrap. Before everything was the same everywhere — there were crate labels.

This is an original Delite Florida citrus crate label — a 1940s lithograph produced for Marion County Citrus Co. of Weirsdale, Florida. It has never been used. Never folded. Never attached to a crate. New Old Stock in mint condition.

There is nothing remotely romantic about Florida citrus. And yet. A couple dances cheek to cheek in front of two enormous red hearts — she in a 1940s upswept hairstyle and understated elegant jewelry, he impeccably dapper in a black tuxedo with boutonnière. The oranges and grapefruit glow with vivid color in the foreground. The whole effect is warm, romantic, and absolutely of its moment — one of the most unexpectedly charming label designs in American crate label history.

Frame it for Valentine's Day. Frame it for a kitchen. Frame it because it is genuinely beautiful and completely unexpected. At 9.0 by 9.0 inches this is a large, square label that fits a standard 9x9 or 10x10 frame beautifully. Two available.

A wonderful gift for a romantic, a vintage label collector, a Florida history enthusiast, or anyone who appreciates the extraordinary intersection of produce marketing and mid-century elegance.

A note on crate label collecting: Original lithographic crate labels from this era are increasingly scarce. NOS examples like this one — never used, never folded, in original mint condition — represent the best of what survives. Collectors prize them for their graphic quality and the window they open onto a vanished chapter of American agricultural and commercial history.

• Brand: Delite Brand / Marion County Citrus Co., Weirsdale, Florida
• Type: Florida citrus crate label
• Made in: USA
• Dated: circa 1940s
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 9.0"
• Condition: New Old Stock (NOS) — unused, mint condition. Age-appropriate yellowing on the reverse only — the face is vivid and pristine. Please review all photos carefully — we cannot accept returns.
• Framing: Fits a standard 9x9 or 10x10 frame — ready to display