Fresh from orchard, field and vineyard is the farmer's goal.

With migration west , and expansion of the railroads  in the 19th century, new cities, ranches and farming communities sprang up in America. Postal and express operations, such as Wells Fargo & Co., stood ready with fast services. From a handful of offices in 1852, Wells Fargo grew to become the nation's first transcontinental express company in 1888, and had 10,000 offices thereafter.

From the beginning, Wells Fargo forwarded agricultural goods of all types. When rail service began in California in the 1850s, shipments of vegetables and potted flowers were aboard. In 1862, Wells Fargo carried 200,000 specimens of Europe's best vineyard stocks to new wine regions  in Napa, Sonoma and Anaheim, Calif.

Wells Fargo contributed to agriculture by encouraging grower cooperatives , adoption of standard packing methods, and by shipping tools and seed. There are instances of Wells Fargo delivering livestock, trees and even ladybugs for pest control . In cooperation with growers and agricultural communities, local agents marketed produce through promotions such as "California Orange Day."

Wells Fargo's "Order Commission and Food Products Department" issued bulletins detailing how to order fruits and vegetables and have them delivered fresh, canned or glazed. The company's fleet of refrigerated rail cars (from the 1890s) carried fish, oysters, poultry and dairy products as well as fruits and vegetables. Fast express cut prices and increased variety and availability. Wells Fargo called attention to products among consumers through shipping specials, banners and office displays.

It was as simple as walking into the local Wells Fargo office and placing an order. Oranges, asparagus or strawberries came to your door in a very short time. The concept of fresh citrus fruit in the dead of a New England, Midwest or Rocky Mountain winter is significant: In a relatively short time, the express business helped broaden the American diet.