How important was avocado growing in Vista?
"Vista did herself proud at the Pasadena Tournament of Roses last Monday with her beautiful and novel avocado float," the article began. The float was sponsored by the Vista Chamber of Commerce and assembled by a committee composed of chamber members along with members of the local horticultural society. The article saluted the backers and the assemblers for their "enthusiasm and teamwork" in creating the float.
The base was a field of foliage, including strawberry vines interspersed with white and pink carnations, poinsettias, pepper boughs and holly. There were some small avocado trees representing an orchard, and "at each corner of the float a larger avocado tree bearing fruits was placed," read the account.
It's not evident how much the nickname "Subtropic Empire" caught on, but the title of "Avocado Capital of the World" was prominently associated with Vista for a number of years, according to Harrison and Ruth Doyle's book, A History of Vista. Until the late 1940s, Vista was home to the largest avocado packing plant in the United States. But as the Doyles and other chroniclers of San Diego County's agricultural history have pointed out, the title of "Avocado Capital of the World" was traded among a number of north county communities over time. That, however, is a story in itself.
To read the entire 1928 Vista Press article, visit the Vista Historical Society website, http://www.vistahistoricalsociety.com/ . The home page contains a digitized archive of the newspaper. Click on the year 1928 and find the January 6 issue.
"The Archaeology of Childbirth" is the subject of a lecture this Saturday, February 8 from 11 a.m. to noon at the San Diego Archaeological Center. Cara Ratner, M.A., Education Program Director at the center, will discuss the biology and evolution of human beings in relation to childbirth and the cultural and archaeological aspects surrounding it. Free to center members, $5 per person for non-members. For further details, visit http://www.sandiegoarchaeology.org/ and click on the "Events" tab.