In 1911, the Pacific Tuna Canning Co. opened the first large tuna cannery in San Diego, California, at the foot of F Street. This plant marked the beginning of San Diego's rise as the 'Tuna Capital of the World,' a position it would hold for much of the 20th century. The cannery processed albacore and other tuna species, using advanced canning techniques and a large fleet of fishing vessels. Although the plant burned down in 1912, it was rebuilt in 1913, and the industry continued to expand rapidly.

San Diego's tuna industry inspired a body of regional literature, including the poems of Kenneth Rexroth and the novels of Richard Henry Dana. Writers celebrated the fishermen's bravery and the industry's contribution to the city's identity. The tuna cannery also appears in labor poetry and folk songs, reflecting the struggles and triumphs of the workers.