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Highlight Reel

Profiling significant events at L.A.'s markets and ports
LA Reel2_MS

1918

The Southern Pacific Railroad completes construction on the Wholesale Terminal Market, which becomes the focal point of the L.A. produce trade.

1920s

The Grand Central Market is now home to more than 90 vendors. A boom in petroleum, lumber, and citrus leads to explosive growth for the Port of Los Angeles.

For the first time in history, Los Angeles surpasses San Francisco as the busiest seaport on the West Coast and ranks second in U.S. foreign export tonnage after New York.

1934

The original Farmers Market opens at the corner of Third Street and Fairfax Avenue. In July farmers and a handful of merchants park at the corner and sell fresh produce from the beds of their trucks; by October there are permanent stalls. To celebrate their success, Market founders host a celebration: the first Fall Festival at Farmers Market.

1937

The Port of L.A.’s middle breakwater 18,500-foot extension is completed.

1939

The Port of Long Beach’s inner harbor hydraulic dredging project begins.

1946

Construction resumes (after the end of World War II) on the San Pedro Bay breakwater and is completed in 1949.

1959

The first shipment of cargo containers arrives in Los Angeles, beginning the era of ‘containerization.’

1962

Construction begins on Long Beach’s Piers J and F; when completed three years later, it is the world’s largest landfill project to date.

1972

The first dedicated container terminal opens at Port of Long Beach.

1983

Port of Los Angeles completes dredging of the main channel to 45 feet.

1985

For the first time in its history, the Port of Los Angeles handles 1 million containers in a year.

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