Monett in Barry County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Strawberry Capital of the World

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 29, 2024

1. Strawberry Capital of the World Marker

Inscription. Strawberries were a huge start to the Monett economy. Strawberries were one of the first crops introduced to Southwest Missouri in the 1800s. Southwest Missouri produced the finest strawberries in the United States and Monett became one of the busiest shipping centers for the Frisco Railroad. This area came alive during the strawberry season as the fruits of the picker's labor were brought to Monett to be placed in refrigerated cars to be shipped to points east, west, north, and south. Families made around $2,000 in 1925 from their strawberry crop and would ship around 125 crates per day. J. Sperandio was one of the bigger operators in the Monett area. His patches covered 4 different locations and many pickers were hired to harvest his crop between 1887-1987. The average price of a crate of strawberries in 1925 was $5.00. The berry picking season began in early May, and a typical yield would be about six thousand pounds an acre, so over a million pounds of strawberries must be picked, sold, and eaten in a relatively short time. The strawberry growers would load them into a wooden box and place them onto a

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vehicle. Then, they would take them to the railroad box cars. From there they transported the fruit to the ice production and filled the boxes with ice to preserve the strawberries before shipping them out. Strawberry production ended around late October. Monett was known as the strawberry capital of the world, but ceased most production in the 1950s largely due to the introduction of modern refrigeration on trains, enabling growing to shift to California, and a shortage of labor for picking.

Written by: Macey Flynt and Katherine Johnson

This sign was created by students under the direction of Monett High School Missouri Literature and Composition teacher Amy M. Sampson and was paid for via a grant she wrote and was awarded from Rural Schools Collaborative and their 2023 Celia B. Godsil Grants in Place Fellows Program.

Erected 2023 by Monett High School students.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Missouri, Monett High School class project series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1887.

Location. 36° 55.193′ N,

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 29, 2024

2. Strawberry Capital of the World Marker

Featured marker is on the right.

93° 55.318′ W. Marker is in Monett, Missouri, in Barry County. It is at the intersection of Front Street and 5th Street, on the right when traveling east on Front Street. Marker is along the fence by the railroad tracks across Front Street from Jerry D. Hall Pavilion. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Monett MO 65708, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Missouri and in the Branson and Table Rock Lake Area.

It is also in the American Ozarks,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Whistle Stops (here, next to this marker); Monett Lynching (here, next to this marker); Monett Harvey House (here, next to this marker); The Frisco Railroad (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Where Did Monett Get its Name?

Loading Strawberries image. Click for full size.

via Barry County Museum (Public Domain), circa 1920/30

3. Loading Strawberries

A common springtime scene in Monett in the 1920s: Farmers delivering strawberries to be labeled and loaded onto refrigerated railroad cars for shipping.

(about 400 feet away); Monett Floods (about 400 feet away); Monett Railroad YMCA (about 400 feet away); The Gillioz Theater (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Monett.

Also see . . . Strawberries in the Ozarks. Book excerpts and photographs about the regional strawberry industry's heyday. (Barry County Museum) (Submitted on July 16, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 17, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 16, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 839 times since then and 116 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 16, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.