"Square Tomatoes" and Mechanical Harvesters:

This is a Zoom Only Meeting.
For Guests:  Please contact Douglas to receive your invitation that includes the access code to our Monday Zoom meeting.

David Stuart, Museum Director, Retired

Hosted by club member, John Stutz

Topic:  
"Square Tomatoes" and Mechanical Harvesters: A History of Tomatoes in the Delta

Although tomatoes had been grown in the Delta for decades, the simultaneous development in the 1950-60s of new plant varieties and a mechanical harvester (and all new handling and processing) likely saved the crop by reducing needed labor--in contrast to Delta asparagus, that couldn't compete with low-labor-cost growing areas.

About the Speaker:
David Stuart has a long personal connection with the Delta--his great great grandfather settled on Grand Island in 1860; his great grandfather started Stuart's Tree Nursery in 1888, which developed and sold fruit and nut trees until a decade or so ago; and his brother was a Delta fishing guide. David grew up in Ripon--as did his grandfather and both parents. He began his career at Caswell State Park and ended it as director of the San Joaquin County Museum in Micke Grove Park. He is now working with the Clarksburg School project.