Customized concrete tomatoes in Jacksonville, Texas, the “Tomato Capital of the World.”
Jacksonville, Texas, was once known as the Tomato Capital of the World in the 1930’s. The town still celebrates its tomato history with a Tomato Fest the second Saturday each June with many activities, including a tomato eating contest, tomato peeling contest, tomato packing contest, best home grown tomato contest, tomato archery — you get the picture! All things tomato. More than 200 vendors sell tomatoes.
A metal flamingo and a concrete tomato hang out at a Jacksonville, Texas, restaurant.
Visitors can take a tour of the at least 175 concrete tomatoes throughout the city, which were sold to businesses and other institutions in the city by the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce to promote its tomato history.
It’s fun to see how each business and public office decorated its tomato, each of which weigh 665 pounds. A Dairy Queen tomato looks like an ice cream cone, a business with a tropical decor decorated its concrete tomato to look like a beach ball, the McDonald’s tomato looks like a box of french fries. Other businesses feature their logos on the tomato.
Love’s Lookout Park is north of Jacksonville, Texas, and is worth a visit, especially if you’re on your way to or from Tyler. The park features a landscaped rest stop, a great view and concrete tomatoes.
About Jacksonville, Texas, Tomato Fest.
See more tomatoes at Love’s Lookout Park, north of Jacksonville.
Love’s Lookout Park.
Jacksonville, Texas, Tomato Capital of the World.
Jacksonville, Texas, the Tomato Capital.
In the fall, this Jacksonville produce stand featured tomatoes along with pumpkins.
Click on the thumbnails to see a full size of each photo.
Catherine Sherman 