Kennewick Prepares to Showcase Local Harvest at Panama-Pacific Expo
A state exposition official visited Kennewick to coordinate a strategy for displaying local soft fruits and processed goods on the global stage in San Francisco.
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A continuous flowing stream of Church's Grape juice is one of the live features which L. M. Brown, of the state exposition commission, is working up for the Washington exhibits at the Panama exposition in San Francisco next year. Mr. Brown, who has charge of assembling the horticultural and agricultural exhibits, was in Kennewick Monday conferring with Mr. Church, the publicity committee of the Commercial club and other business men. Mr. Brown explained that all the commission is asking of the different communities of the state is, that they furnish the products. The commission does the rest, including transportation charges from Seattle to San Francisco. 'We want anything that is grown commercially in the state,' said Mr. Brown. 'Any exhibit that is sent from here will be labeled not only with the word, Kennewick, but with the name of the grower and any prizes will be collected by us and turned over to the community or the individual making the exhibit.' Mr. Brown suggested that Kennewick make an effort to display the soft fruits as they come in season. This can be done by means of small refrigerators which can be obtained at moderate cost. It is probable that beginning with asparagus and finishing up with grapes, Kennewick products will be on display at the big fair from early spring until late fall.
“We want anything that is grown commercially in the state.”
This early 20th-century push to brand Kennewick produce for international markets mirrors the city's ongoing economic efforts to maintain its identity as an agricultural hub. The emphasis on individual grower credit highlights how vital local identity was—and remains—to regional economic survival.
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