Wilbert Parkhurst
Encyclopedia
Wilbert Parkhurst was the founder of Empresas La Famosa, Inc., a company dedicated to the packaging and distribution of canned fruits and juices. The company, whose products are sold in 62 countries, is the owner of the brands "Famosa", "Criada" and "Coco Lopez"
with his wife Bertha Jane and his three sons Wilbert Nicholas, Norman Eugene, Howard Allen. He purchased some land in the town of Bayamon and cultivated citrus fruits such as grapefruits and pineapples.
Ramón López Irizarry
, a successful Puerto Rican inventor, packaged his product "Coco López
" at the Industrias La Famosa canning factory. "Coco López" contained the ingredients which became the basis for the piña colada
drink, which made its first appearance in 1954. In 1966, he sold the brand to Wilbert Parkhurst and family who later forged a deal with David Ballachow to distribute the product in the United States. In 1978, the Parkhurst family sold Empresas La Famosa, Inc. and the Coco López brand to the Borden Co.
basketball
team based in Bayamón
, Puerto Rico
. The team, which played in the BSN league of Puerto Rico
, won their third championship in 1967, under his ownership.
The town of Las Piedras, Puerto Rico
named an urbanization "Parkhurst" in honor of Wilbert Parkhurst.
Early years
In 1906, Parkhurst moved to Puerto Rico from Millville, New JerseyNew Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
with his wife Bertha Jane and his three sons Wilbert Nicholas, Norman Eugene, Howard Allen. He purchased some land in the town of Bayamon and cultivated citrus fruits such as grapefruits and pineapples.
Empresas La Famosa, Inc.
In 1921, Parkhurst founded the Parkhurst Canning Co.; a company dedicated to canning and distribution of the fruits produced in his lands. In 1923, the company was renamed Empresas La Famosa, Inc. and Norman Eugene served as president. The company succeeded in introducing its products to the local market and continued to grow. Parkhurst's family became involved in the business which by 1971, included Frozen Fruits Concentrates, Inc. (the juice brand "Caribe"), Toa Canning Co., La Concentradora de Puerto Rico and Bayamón Can Company.Ramón López Irizarry
Ramon Lopez Irizarry
Ramón Lopez-Irizarry was an educator and scientist who invented an easier way to extract the cream from the coconut pulp and developed the original formula of Coco López.-Early years:...
, a successful Puerto Rican inventor, packaged his product "Coco López
Coco Lopez
Coco López is a Puerto Rican coconut product which is used in many popular drinks."Coco López" was invented by Ramón López Irizarry, who was an agricultural professor for the University of Puerto Rico. With funds from the government, he worked on his idea inside a small laboratory that he owned...
" at the Industrias La Famosa canning factory. "Coco López" contained the ingredients which became the basis for the piña colada
Piña Colada
The piña colada is a sweet, rum-based cocktail made with rum, cream of coconut, and pineapple juice, usually served either blended or shaken with ice. It may be garnished with a pineapple wedge or a maraschino cherry or both...
drink, which made its first appearance in 1954. In 1966, he sold the brand to Wilbert Parkhurst and family who later forged a deal with David Ballachow to distribute the product in the United States. In 1978, the Parkhurst family sold Empresas La Famosa, Inc. and the Coco López brand to the Borden Co.
Later years
Parkhurst's son, Wilbert Nicholas, was the owner of the Vaqueros de Bayamón (lit. "Bayamon Cowboys"), a professionalProfessional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team based in Bayamón
Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. The team, which played in the BSN league of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, won their third championship in 1967, under his ownership.
The town of Las Piedras, Puerto Rico
Las Piedras, Puerto Rico
Las Piedras is a municipality in east Puerto Rico located in the center region of the island, north of Yabucoa; south of Canóvanas and Río Grande; east of Juncos and San Lorenzo; and west of Naguabo and Humacao. Las Piedras is spread over 7 wards and Las Piedras Pueblo...
named an urbanization "Parkhurst" in honor of Wilbert Parkhurst.
See also
- List of Puerto Ricans
- Vaqueros de Bayamón