November Strawberry Picking Sparks a Friendly Competition Between Two New England Farmers

"The New London Advocate noticed the fact that strawberries had been picked from the garden of Mr Brandegree and asked, 'Who can beat this?'"

November 22, 1843

On this day, the New England Farmer out of Boston posted a story called Strawberries in November.

The article revealed friendly competition between two strawberry growers: Mr. Brandegree of New London and Simeon Marble of Boston.

Here's what it said:

The New London Advocate noticed the fact that strawberries had been picked from the garden of Mr Brandegree and asked,
"Who can beat this?"

[In response, a] Mr Simeon Marble yesterday presented us a bunch of ripe strawberries, just plucked from the vines in his garden, in this city.

They were of two varieties, red and white.

The New London folks will please to consider themselves beaten.