Tomatoes

In the late 1800s, people in the Ozark Mountains lived off the land and spent their summers farming in preparation for long winters. Although many crops struggled in the rocky Ozarks soil, tomatoes thrived and produced more than local families could use. A resident began buying the extra tomatoes from neighbors, canning them in his kitchen, and selling them to nearby communities, beginning Stone County's tomato canning industry and creating a much needed source of income for the area. At its peak, tomato canning was the county's largest trade, employing more than 2,500 growers and another 2,500 residents in 38 canneries. Workers stood shoulder-to-shoulder for long days in the summer heat, hand peeling tomatoes for 5¢ per bucket. In the early days, Ozark canneries supplied over 1.5 million cases of tomatoes each year to communities across the United States.

Branson West, Missouri · United States