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The following
excerpt is from a 1940 Tomato Festival brochure:
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First Shipment
of Tomatoes, 1906 |
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"The first tomatoes grown
for the commercial market in the State of Texas were grown
in the Jacksonville area, at Craft, in the year 1897. That
year six cars were shipped. The first two were sold in St.
Louis, the second two sold in Kansas City and the last two
sold in Denver. Through the years Jacksonville has been recognized
as one of the outstanding tomato producing sections of the
Nation with an average of 15,000 acres grown annually in the
area and with a production of about 3,000 cars which are shipped
to all parts of the United States and Canada.
The attainment of this place of national
consequence has not been easy. There are innumerable odds
and hazards in every crop. However, there is a "Tomato-Mindedness"
in the area and despite all conflicting conditions, the farmers
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of this section will
go on growing tomatoes because it is their chief livelihood
and throughout all their active farm life, they have been
accustomed to growing them.
Tomatoes grown in the rich, red loam
and sandy soil heavily impregnated with iron ore and other
minerals of this East Texas area are fine flavored and a distinctive
favorite on American tables. Growers of this section, because
of their experience, the soil and climatic conditions, have
an advantage in a superior pack and a higher quality product." |
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"Tomatoes and two year old Peach Orchard
at Jacksonville, East Texas, on Cotton Belt Route"
Postcard, printed ca. 1910
View this item |
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"Loading Tomatoes for Shipment at Jacksonville,
East Texas on Cotton Belt Route"
Postcard, printed in 1913
View
this item |
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During the "pink" deal, farmers packed their own
tomatoes in crates at the farm and brought them down to town
to be loaded, as shown in photo. The "pink" deal,
according to Jack Douglas, ended about 1906, when the "green
wrap" deal began to develop.
Photo from Staton
family collection. |
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Jacksonville's Tomato Festival, an elaborate annual celebration
which drew nation-wide attention during the hey-day of the tomato
deal, originated in 1934. First queen was Billye Sue Hackney
(Mrs. W. R. Stearns), the second queen was Violette Slaton (Mrs.
Violette Lahourcade). They are shwon here with Texas Governor
James V. Allred. In addition to her reign as Tomato Queen, Miss
Slaton was Queen of the Texas Centennial in 1936.
Photo from Raymond West collection.
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This float appeared in the initial Tomato Festival parade
in 1934. Seated at the top of float, Billye Sue Hackney, first
queen, standing above her is Violette Slaton, lady in waiting.
Seated (in hats) are Lena Gibson and Virginia Acker; seated
toward center is Frances Fuller and seated at the front are
Beryl Bolton and Alice Naoma Shattuck. The young girls seated
at the top, right, is Ruth Joyce Dashiell. Two of the youngest
girls are Charlotte Ann Acker and Glynda Gay Haberle; other
children unidentified.
Photo from Frances Fuller Peacock collection.
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Ed. Van Zandt, Jacksonville newspaperman at the time, looks
over a few baskets of No. 1 "green wrap" tomatoes
as they are unloaded at the packing shed. This photo was taken
during the 1941 season, just prior to World War II, and tomato
shipping has declined steadily since that time.
Photo from Raymond West collection.
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Compiled by Greg Smith. If you have any materials you'd like to contribute, please email me.
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