UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



BULLETIN No. 290 



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Contribution from the Office of Markets and Rural 

 -JTWV'v^. Organization, CHARLES J. BRAND, Chief 4"\»££*^-/"t~ 



Washington, D. C. V August 30, 1915. 



RAIL SHIPMENTS AND DISTRIBUTION OF FRESH 

 TOMATOES, 1914. 1 



By Wells A. Sherman, Specialist in Market Surveys, and Paul Froehlich and 

 Houston F. Walker, Scientific Assistants. 



INTRODUCTION. 



There is probably no perishable vegetable commonly grown out of 

 doors in the United States which appears upon the market through 

 a longer season than does the tomato. Winter supplies are received 

 from Cuba, and until railroad communication was interrupted by the 

 recent troubles there was a constantly increasing production on the 

 west coast of Mexico. The industry in Florida has been an important 

 and rapidly increasing one until now shipments range around 5,000 to 

 6,000 carloads per year. The charts on page 6 show the average 

 length of the shipping seasons for each of the principal producing areas 

 and the relative quantities of tomatoes shipped from each of these 

 districts. Florida opens the commercial shipping season in January, 

 and throughout the first few months encounters comparatively little 

 competition in the eastern markets. South Texas is a competitor 

 during May and June, and it is possible that the production of this 

 territory will be largely increased. 



The two areas of important production which first come upon 

 the market hi direct competition are the southern Mississippi and east 

 Texas areas. In each of these the heavy shipping season is short, 

 extending through June and the first week of July. Every effort is 

 made to rush the crop on the market as rapidly as possible. Prac- 

 tically all of the numerous growers in the State of Texas report that 

 the shipping season begins about May 1 and ends about July 15. 

 There are a few points, however, at which two crops of tomatoes are 

 raised. From such points the second crop is shipped usually from 



1 About 95 per cent of the reports of shipments listed in this publication were furnished by railroad 

 officials, to whom acknowledgment is made for their courtesy and assistance. 



Note. — This bulletin is of general interest to tomato growers, shippers, dealers, transportation companies, 

 and consumers, and to all engaged in the trade in tomatoes and vegetables. 

 3108°— Bull. 290—15 1 



