as the century went on, ketchup became more popular in the united states. more americans began to like tomatoes. tomato ketchup was sold locally by farmers. a man named jonas yerks (or yerkes) is believed to have been the first man to make tomato ketchup a national phenomenon. by 1837, he had produced and distributed the condiment nationally. shortly after that, other companies did the same. f. &amp; j. heinz created their tomato ketchup in 1876. heinz tomato ketchup was advertised: "blessed relief for mother and the other women in the household!"