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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BULLETIN No. 290 
Contribution from the Office \>{ Markets and Rural 
Organization, CHARLES J. BRAND, Chief 
Washington, D. C. 
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 in 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 
i 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 
