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"

Early years

In 1906, Parkhurst moved to Puerto Rico from Millville,

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the 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.
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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, 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 The piña colada (; es, piña , "pineapple", and , "strained") is a cocktail made with rum, cream of coconut or coconut milk, and pineapple juice, usually served either blended or shaken with ice. It may be garnished with either a pineapple w ...

drink, which made its first appearance in 1954. In 1966, he sold the brand to the Parkhurst family, which later forged a deal with David Ballachow to distribute the product in the continental United States.Slammed Magazine
/ref> In 1978, the Parkhurst family sold Empresas La Famosa, Inc. and the Coco López brand to the Borden company.

Later years

Parkhurst's son, Wilbert Nicholas (January 4, 1927 - January 11, 2010), was the owner of the Vaqueros de Bayamón (lit. "Bayamon Cowboys"), a

professional A professional is a member of a profession or any person who works in a specified professional activity. The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skil ...

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...

team based in Bayamón,

Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and Unincorporated ...

. The team, which played in the BSN league of

, won their third championship in 1967, under his ownership. The town of

Las Piedras, Puerto Rico Las Piedras (, ) is a Las Piedras barrio-pueblo, town and Municipalities of Puerto Rico, municipality in east Puerto Rico (U.S.) located in the central eastern region of the island, north of Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, Yabucoa; south of Canóvanas, Pu ...

named an urbanization "Parkhurst" in honor of the Parkhurst family.Parkhurst
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References

Puerto Rican businesspeople Year of birth missing Year of death missing Businesspeople from New Jersey People from Bayamón, Puerto Rico {{PuertoRico-bio-stub

Early years

Empresas La Famosa, Inc.

Later years

See also

References