SEED STORIES | Millionaire: Tomato of the Ozarks Red Gold Boom

For a time in the late 19th to mid-20th century, the Ozark mountains of Missouri and Arkansas were a hub of tomato canning in the U.S., and the Millionaire tomato is surely one of the varieties grown for packing. This classic beefsteak type tomato is wonderful for fresh eating and canning. We are so pleased to offer this Ozarks beauty, which we thought had been lost to history!

[@ashleighscott9896]

wow, how special to hear from people who actually worked the fields and canning factory. i love the seed stories!!!!!

[@RareSeedsBC]

Thank you! We were very honored to share their stories!

[@theblankman5036]

This is what I love about gardening all the history in the food

[@salemthorup9536]

That sweet lady has amazing hair, especially for her age. What a pretty lady. Dang. If I can look half that good at her age...

[@Suburbangeek]

Very interesting - love the history.

[@mercurywoodrose]

love seed lore and plant lore. what hidden gold. true americana. keep it coming, these people are our wise elders, just by doing their jobs all those years. feeding us is the most basic thing you can give.

[@adamweeks614]

I love this. Those two remind me of the backyard gardeners I knew as a child. Some of my fondest memories are of walking through a garden in the twilight of a summer evening with my elderly neighbors, listening to them share their lives with me. Their gardens were so beautiful and lush. It's because of them, and those who came before them, that we continue to have such great genetic diversity in our gardens today. They saved from seed to seed, out of necessity. Then, when the seed catalogs started to discontinue the open pollinated varieties, they organized themselves under Seed Saver's Exchange to preserve the seed for future generations. I have hope that this generation will take up the task of saving seed again. It feels like we're hungry for that kind of connection, to the land, to our food, to each other.

[@TalkingThreadsMedia]

Thanks, Michelle. Hearing the history of "Millionaire Tomato" is fascinating! Millionaire was one of the varieties in my 2019 garden. It performed well. Seeds are being sprouted for inclusion in my 2020 garden. Best wishes for another bountiful harvest. Kate in Olympia, WA -- 2/19/2020.

[@seedaholicgardens9085]

ooh if you recommend It, Kate, i will have to buy a pack!

[@seedaholicgardens9085]

How di I miss this seed story wow I'm slippin!😄 BRILLIANT!As always!"Blessings of Bounty and May Your Gardens and your Life always Bring You Joy,Inspiration and Abundance!" - Hope

[@giojared]

Love these little stories! Very interesting stuff!

[@shaklee100k]

Sweet! Thank you for posting this. I love the stories from the ones that worked it.

[@zemry]

Very interesting history!

[@FishOnIsMyHandle]

Very cool *THANKS*

[@jman4817]

Another awesome story!!! Love the history behind these seeds!

[@Taai02]

LOVE your videos!!!! Thankyou so very much 🥰

[@unitedstatesdale]

Doris Hayes = PRECIOUS

[@jeremybyington]

They certainly did take the long way home! Thanks for the great video!

[@OldReddingFarm]

Very cool thank you for sharing ! !

[@jessiecatmeow419]

Love this

[@Rosethatwantstomove]

Wow. I had ordered other tomato seeds now I regret ordering the others

[@mio.giardino]

Now I need to order more seeds 🤣😂

[@adrianrodriguez9582]

You should do one of the roma tomatoe

[@kathleenschaefer8208]

I was really curious about the tomato peeling knife however all I could see of it was from the tip. I would really like to see a good picture of the knife- it's shape especially!

[@RareSeedsBC]

apologies, we dont have any closeup of it, it looks like an old paring knife!

[@silasmonk2458]

Always loved the burnished brown and off white photography of 1he 19th century..especially documentary style. Aren't there yellow and purple giant heirloom tomatoes as well? I know I saw the purple ones at Whole Foods market...and I don't remember where I saw the yellow ones... I thought the purple and yellow were the healthiest- not to mention the wonderful black tomatoes I put on my wish list on your website☺

[@RareSeedsBC]

Yes, there is a rainbow of heirloom tomatoes out there! Try this link to see our selection (categorized by color, in fact!) www.rareseeds.com/store/vegetables/tomatoes . I t is hard to say which is most healthy, as they all possess their own good traits!

[@PrincessShaBooBoo]

💚😊

[@MedicineWolf]

Could you guys make a video that shows the entire facility and shows everything you do? Like an all in one introductory video? I want something that I can send to friends of mine who are into organics and gardening etc. that would make them want to come visit the Ozarks

[@RareSeedsBC]

Mike, thanks for the idea! We haven't produced an overall farm tour video, but there are a few that might enticing and interesting for your friends. Check out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2Ouoah3gJ2SsKc and also kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpnTf4KbrM-bprc

[@tphvictims5101]

I’ve met Red Goldbloom.

[@bobjohnson8447]

how do yall post this on YT and FB and not carry the seeds on your website? disappointing.

[@RareSeedsBC]

Hi Bob, thanks for your note. This video was produced two years ago. At the time, we did carry the Millionaire tomato. Our ability to offer varieties is largely dependent on supply, and given the increased demand for seeds, it has been very challenging to keep things in stock, and in sufficient quantity, to offer to our customers. We certainly don't like disappointing our customers and not being able to carry these wonderful varieties.

[@joijaxx]

@@RareSeedsBC Do you think you will be able to carry these seeds again in the future?

[@anthonygiarrusso4312]

Is it determinate or indeterminate

[@denko44]

Knowing baker creek probably indeterminate..

[@RareSeedsBC]

Indeterminate!

[@JeremiahNewmeVentures]

Is thre anyway that i can get this seeds.. I meant which can be ship to India?

[@RareSeedsBC]

yes we ship seeds internationally!

[@JeremiahNewmeVentures]

@@RareSeedsBCcan you tell me price in india rupees?

[@tonis8600]

I am new. Where can I purchase seeds of these tomatoes?

[@RareSeedsBC]

www.rareseeds.com/store/vegetables/tomatoes/pink/millionaire-tomato

[@kelliefolkerts9508]

@@RareSeedsBC I know this is from 2 years ago, is that seed no longer offered or just gone for the season? Thank you if you do see this :)

[@huertapanama501]

Subtitulo en español porfavor

[@thenursefarmer]

I am notorious for moaning and groaning about technology. Are food processors a type of 'technology'? Hmmm.... Maybe more like 'machinery', I guess. Regardless, all I can say is, thank God for food processors! I can only imagine having to peel my tomatoes by hand like these farmers had to.