Arkansas tomato harvest underway, initial 40% freeze hit seen in Bradley County

FIRST BOX OF TOMATOES: Chase (L) and Logan(R) Ferrell, grandsons of Billy Joe and Yvonne Ferrell of the Johnsville community, show off Bradley County’s first box of vine-ripened tomatoes. Billy Joe and Yvonne, tomato farmers since 1961, have about 30 acres of mainly Amelia variety tomatoes. John Gavin, county extension staff chair, says the Ferrells reported the first box on May 26.He estimates the county’s tomato crop will be 40% short because of the mid-April freeze, but there will still be enough for Warren’s Pink Tomato Festival June 8-9. (Photo by John Gavin, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service)