Hastings potato capital (#0349)

Headquarters of the potato growers association, who once proclaimed Hastings to be the Potato Capital of Florida.

The town actually owes its existence to the quintessential Florida product, tourism. Per the T-U article (adjacent photo), the town was founded in 1890 when the railroads arrived in St. Augustine and there was a need for potatoes (and cabbage) to supply the growing number of resorts there. Then, in 1916, the Dixie Highway (see adjacent photo) came through town and brought tourists down from the Midwest, and more need for food.

(Part of a photo-essay series on personal history and race, with keyword FlaAla0518)