Located in the city of Alviso in the Santa Clara Valley, Foon created and used new innovative ideas to improve the Bayside Cannery. These ideas included a machine that quickened the washing of tomato crates before they went back out to the field, as well as the use of tugboats to utilize the nearby San Francisco Bay for transportation of his goods. Through the invention of asparagus sorting and processing equipment invented by one of his workers, Foon earned the title of Asparagus King because he was the first cannery to can green asparagus and was one of the most capable canners of this vegetable.
The people that Thomas Foon hired to work in the Bayside Cannery originated from many different cultures. When the business began most of the workers were Chinese, friends and family with little training. Despite the lack of training, however, Foon was willing to hire and help them, a kindness that would follow him throughout the hiring of his many employees. In the 1920's many of the Chinese became unable to work as they aged and the younger generations wanted to work elsewhere. Foon then began to hire Caucasians, first Portuguese and, later, Italians and Irish. For a short period of time he also hired Hindus.
Foon was well respected by both his employees and his peers of all races as an extremely intelligent businessman and a kind person. He was a member of a number of business organizations, as well as the first Chinese to be accepted into the Masons. In a time period in which there was much prejudice against Chinese, he became one the most respected people in California by both Chinese and Caucasians. Thomas Foon was also known as being kind to his employees. He was encouraging, helpful and truly cared for their well-being. Despite the lack of education that many of his workers had, Foon gave them the opportunity to move up in his company if he saw dedication and hard work. He always saw to it personally that all of his workers had enough food. Even during the canning off-season, Foon allowed them to stay in cabins near the cannery and made sure they had enough to eat.
In 1931, at the age of 42, Thomas Foon died as a result of pneumonia aggravated by his asthma. His funeral became a symbol of the affection and the admiration that so many people held for him. Both whites and Asians acted as Honorary Pallbearers including the Mayor of San Francisco and the San Jose City Manager. The chapel in which the service was held could not hold the hundreds of people that had come to attend.
Thomas Foon Chew has been remembered both as a great businessman and a great person. He was successful, but more importantly he found this success while bringing happiness and success into the lives of others.
Information for this article was taken from:
Wright, J.C. "Thomas Foon Chew - Founder of Bayside Cannery." Chinese Argonauts:
An Anthology of the Chinese Contributions to the Historical Development of Santa Clara
County. Ed. Gloria Sun Hom. San Jose: Foothill Community College, 1971. 20-41.
Erin Kimura
