Did You Know That a Strawberry Could Be 
PATENTED! 
To the left is a photographic reproduction 
of U. S. Plant Patent No. 26 granted Keith 
Bros, covering their new Kanner King, the 
first strawberry in the world to be granted 
the protection of a patent right. So unique 
was the origin and the development of this 
variety, along with its outstanding straw¬ 
berry characteristics, the U. S. Patent Office 
issued it this patent protection under Plant 
Patent No. 26. 
Chosen From 5,000 
Varieties 
Kanner King was first noticed in row No. 34 
in an experimental field on Keith Bros. Nur¬ 
sery where over 5,000 new seedling strawberry 
varieties of Keith Bros, origin were being 
tested. So outstanding was this seedling No. 
34, as it was then called, that plants were 
taken up and set in a commercial row for 
further observance and testing. 
How Kanner King 
Came to Be Patented 
During the third year of its history, this new 
berry showed such satisfactory characteristics 
as to handling, shipping and flavor, color, firm¬ 
ness, etc., that berries were sent to the Mich. 
State Experiment Station at South Haven, 
Mich., where they were canned after the ordi¬ 
nary methods of commercial canning. During 
the following winter a government inspector 
from the U. S. Bureau of Plant Industry visited 
the Station to test out the canning qualities of 
the many canned varieties of strawberries where 
the government was in search of a suitable can¬ 
ning strawberry. Variety No. 34 was found so 
satisfactory that he immediately wanted to know 
where the berries in this lot came from. The next 
day he called at our nursery to see the variety 
No. 34 growing in the field, and it was during 
this visit that we were encouraged to put the vari¬ 
ety on the market and a plant patent was suggested. 
Why Call This The 
KANNER KING! 
During the fourth year of its history, this new variety was 
called “Red Heart,” because it was a solid red color clear 
through to the heart. This name was definitely decided 
upon for the new variety, but during the following winter 
out came the U. S. Dept, of Agriculture introducing three 
new varieties and one of which was called “Red Heart,” so 
we had to rename our new berry. 
During the days of discussion and search for an appropriate name, 
“Kanner King” was suggested and Kanner King it was, because 
the variety is a King of canners. During canning, preserving, etc., 
Kanner King berries retain a beautiful strawberry color, and do 
not cook up into a mush. They hold their size, shape and nice 
flavor until consumed, whether canned after home methods or 
canned in large commercial canneries. 
Page 2 
Copyright 1934 
