Wenatchee World, June 24, 1973

Tomatoes by Thousands

By Jane Cartwright

Tonasket - Tomatoes by the thousands may be harvested here this season for first time since Oroville cannery closed down years ago.

Despite some skepticism from other farmers, 23-year-old Bill Allstot has planted 100,000 tomatoes in long straight rows among young apple trees.

"Seattle or Spokane" is going to be the market for all those tomatoes, Allstot says without hesitation. He plans to have pickers sort the tomatoes by size and possibly pack them right in the field.

Already, the curious gaze down the tree rows at tomato plants.The orchard is located off the road to the airport.

The young farmer raised three varieties of plants from seed in a homemade greenhouse to cut down on expense. Planting was done by a specialized machine borrowed from some Canadians, who supplied him crucial growing information as well.

He describes himself as a fellow who likes to take a chance, to face challenges, especially when he's working out an idea for himself.

"It's really a shame there aren't more things growing in this valley besides apples," he says. "I don't like to put all my eggs in one basket."

Valley farmers are possibly missing out by not expanding their crops to include produce and grapes, for example, he said. The Canadians grow produce among the fruit trees to sell at roadside stands.

A potential disadvantage to growing tomatoes here is a short growing season, Allstot said. The season is hemmed in at both ends by frost. But, the soil is very good for tomatoes.

Within a week or so he'll be on the road looking for a large scale buyer if everything goes as he's planned. "That's the part I really enjoy," he said. "The selling… price talks as long as you have a good product."

Currently tomatoes feed into the area from California and Mexico and the large freight cost is passed off to the consumer. So Allstot figures he has a good chance for success. And he's used to enterprise. During the winters he hauls truck loads of apple wood from the valley to Spokane to sell, even though he doesn't particularly enjoy doing it.

But the venture hasn't been without its problems. The 40 by 150 foot greenhouse he and his wife, Becky, built was leveled by wind and had to be rebuilt from scratch. Irrigation water for the orchard, which sits on a plateau overlooking the river, is pumped up 300 feet.

Allstot has another 15 acres down below planted in apple trees, still young - and cucumbers!