Henderson's Pink Ponderosa is a large and exquisitely flavored tomato developed in the 19th century. This unforgettable heirloom was the subject of a sensational marketing blitz by Henderson’s Seed Company.
Who Was Peter Henderson?
Peter Henderson was a Scottish immigrant whose encyclopedic knowledge of plants and creative vision made his seed catalog one of the most well known in the U.S during the company's 100 years in business.
The very first Henderson’s catalog was a mere four pages long and just 100 copies were printed. By the time of Henderson’s death in 1890, the catalog averaged over 125 pages, and more than 600,000 copies were distributed each year.
Henderson was a dedicated and tenacious seedsman. His catalogs were considered a valuable — and collectible — gardening resource. They were packed with tips and advice he had acquired through decades of horticultural expertise and often featured an intricately designed cover made with five color lithograph plates. (For more, see our story on the history of seed catalogs.)
Marketing the Pink Ponderosa
The Henderson's Pink Ponderosa tomato was launched with a leviathan marketing effort in 1890, the same year Henderson died and his sons took over the business.
Apparently, Peter Henderson’s wily marketing skills rubbed off on the next generation. To build excitement, the company ran a full-page ad offering $250 to the person who submitted the best name for what they just called the “400 tomato.”
Henderson’s encouraged customers to buy a packet of seeds, then submit a name inspired by the delicious fruit. The following year, five men submitted the same winning name — Ponderosa — and shared the $250 prize.
The 1892 catalog describes it as follows: “The Ponderosa possesses every good quality to be found in a tomato. The vines are strong and vigorous and easily carry their enormous weight of fruit. Its massive or ponderous fruits are almost perfect in form, and so free from ridges or corrugations as to seem nearly as smooth as glass.”
The catalog also ran a half-page ad describing the procedure for judging the contest, complete with a wood-block image of the three esteemed judges hashing out the winner. After all, there was a lot of money on the line — the equivalent of almost $7,000 today!
The 1892 edition also included several sensational reviews of the tomato. Silas L. Snider of Onieda County raved “Your ponderosa does not fail to arrest attention. The fruit is almost as firm as an apple, has little juice and few seeds. These slender plants, trained and standing erect, tree-like and clothed in foliage of the darkest green and bearing such immense burdens of crimson fruit, is a sight rarely equalled.”
Pink Ponderosa and Japan's First Tomato
This heirloom tomato has also enjoyed popularity in Japan, where it was introduced during the Meiji period and found fertile ground in Aichi province, a center of tomato production in Japan.
Japanese breeders loved its sweet, balanced flavor, large size, and pleasantly pink color, and according to a paper by Shoji Kamamura, of the Morioka Branch Laboratory, breeders at the Aichi Experiment Station crossed Pink Ponderosa with an unknown Japanese variety in the 1920s to create the Aichi tomato — probably the first tomato variety developed in Japan! (Baker Creek is pleased to offer this exceptional Japanese tomato.)
Aichi was a very popular variety for processing until the beginning of the 1960s, in Aichi Province and beyond. It was large and pink, with a ribbed shape. Other accounts of the tomato’s origin differ, attributing its development to breeders at the Toyohashi Greenhouse Horticultural Cooperative Association in Aichi Prefecture in 1938.
There is little wonder why breeders chose Henderson’s Pink Ponderosa to create the first Japanese tomato. It was truly a breakthrough in tomato quality, with smooth, firm flesh that allowed for shipping and marketing, yet boasting flavor worthy of effusive praise.
Key Takeaways
- Henderson's Pink Ponderosa tomato was introduced in 1890, the year Peter Henderson died and his sons took over the seed business.
- Henderson's Pink Ponderosa was a marvel of tomato breeding, with good shipping quality and flavor.
- Japanese breeders adapted the variety in the early 20th century in Aichi province, a center of tomato production in Japan, to create the Aichi tomato, quite probably Japan's first tomato.
About the Author
Michelle Johnson wears a lot of hats here at Baker Creek, but perhaps her favorite role is that of seed historian. She produced many of the Seed Stories videos on our YouTube channel (and yes, that's her voice narrating many of them!) and frequently contributes stories to The Whole Seed Catalog. With decades of experience as a journalist, both in print and on the radio, she is delighted to use her reporting skills to dig in to the history of seeds and the people who grow them.
