REMEMBER THE HUNDREDS OF JAPANESE immigrants Claus Spreckels employed at his sugar beet factory? These laborers invested their earnings into the county’s rich farmland and introduced crops like celery to the Salinas Valley—still a signature crop today. Many other immigrant groups, while originally only valued for their labor, contributed significantly to the agricultural history of the county. For example, Italians introduced artichokes and Filipinos planted the first sugar peas. Produce labels courtesy of the Monterey County Agricultural & Rural Life Museum 1920s 1920 Invention of evaporated milk makes Monterey County the leading dairy county in the state 1923 One part-time doctor, one part-time nurse and $5,000 establishes the county’s health department 1921 San Clemente Dam on the Carmel River is completed 1924 Salinas achieves highest per capita income of any US city 1922 Dr. Sarah Hatton’s El Adobe Hospital opens in Monterey
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