Though the tomato was not recognized as a valuable food until about a century ago, its merit is now universally accepted. Bob Adams used to call it "the poor man's orange" for it is rich in vitamins and in malic and citric acid, possessing besides, a fine appetizing flavor which is as truly a value in nutrition as it is a pleasure. Actually, the tomato is mostly water, of rather low protein and carbohydrate content but this does not detract, for other foods are dependable for these staples of nutrition and most of us eat too much of them. The tomato is a youngster among the vegetables. In contrast to the onion of Egyptian lore and the cucumber reputed to have been used in Western Asia many centuries ago, the tomato is not reported until the herbalists of the 16th century recorded its culture in Italy and England--but with little of the esteem now accorded. The name seems to be of Aztec origin and two distinct wild forms--one corresponding to our cherry or currant varieties and the other to our larger, flatter, less regular fruits of many cells,--are to be found wild in Latin America. Its American origin is generally accepted. Commercially, the tomato is a great crop. Among the vegetables, it is outranked only by the potato and the sweet potato. The following table gives a few figures on the tomato crop: ====================================================================== | | _Acres_ | _Value_ | | _Thousands_ | _Million dollars_ |_1929-38_+-------------+---------+------+------ |_Average_| | |_1929-38_| | | |_1939_|_1940_|_Average_|_1939_|_1940_ ----------------------+---------+------+------+---------+------+------ U.S. for canning | 369 | 358 | 386 | 19 | 24 | 24 for fresh market | 177 | 210 | 204 | 24 | 34 | 29 +---------+------+------+---------+------+------ Total | 546 | 568 | 590 | 43 | 58 | 53 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Average yield for market is about 116 bushels per acre and the average price $1.26 per bushel. The government reckons a bushel at 53 pounds, or about 38 bushels per ton. The average cannery yield for 1929-38 was 4.15 tons; for 1939, 5.58 tons; and 1940, 5.39 tons. This shows a material increase. The average cannery price for 1929-38 was $12.54 per ton. Yields by states varied widely in 1940 from 2.7 tons per acre in Arkansas with Indiana at 5.5 to 7.5 in California. In northeastern states, it is considered that about a seven ton yield is necessary for the farmer to break even. In New York, it costs about $60.00 to grow an acre of tomatoes to first picking. With a good yield, picking and delivery costs about $3.00 a ton.