Mack’s Tomatoes and Produce
Mack’s Tomatoes and Produce in West Carroll Parish grows a range of traditional Southern produce, including squash, beans, okra, cucumbers, and melons, with a main focus on tomatoes. Retired educator, Mack Albritton heads the business, with assistance from his wife and youngest son Michael, along with Michael’s wife ,Ylane and daughter Suezanna.
Influenced by the newly formed Tomato Growing Association, Mack began growing tomatoes in 1969 on a quarter of an acre as a means of supplementing his teacher income. He graduated from Louisiana Tech University in 1958 with an education degree , and had begun teaching in Pioneer, where he eventually became principal. He received his master’s degree in education and his plus 30 hours in Administration and Supervision.
Having grown up and worked on his parents’ 120 acre farm growing row crops in Kilbourne, he knew the rudiments of vegetable gardening since “we grew everything we ate.” All the children worked on farm, feeding livestock, milking cows, etc.
When it came to his current tomato business, he draws on this experience, and all the new techniques presented by the L.S.U. Cooperative Extension Service. Because of competition from Mexico, he decided to change from traditional growing techniques to new technology. Now farming only five acres, he uses plastic mulch with drip irrigation under the mulch and a regular program of fungicide/pesticide to reduce disease and insects. He tries to get the highest quality of hybrid plant and nutrition to produce a quality product and prefers to start all his plants in his own greenhouse. Although he has considered organic farming, he has decided against it because of the “constant battle fighting insects.” After harvesting the produce, they wash the tomatoes, squash, eggplant; and cull, grade (for consistent size and weight) and pack them for wholesale.
Last summer, he participated in an experiment with LSU in growing 15 new varieties of tomatoes resistant to tomato spotted wilt virus and checking them for flavor and heartiness. The top two varieties were Amelia and Crista, which he was already growing. He says that he used to make $1 off one tomato plant, but now he gets about $10 of tomatoes from each plant because of the varieties he plants and the latest cultural practices.
Albritton believes that the tomatoes will retain their flavor better if they are not refrigerated during the shipping and marketing process. In fact, unless they are overripe, the consumer should not refrigerate them unless they are leftover after slicing. Another tip Mack provides is how to select a watermelon: look for a lightly faded top and a light yellow underside; thump or slap the melon surface hard; the duller or flatter the sound, the riper the melon
Mack’s sells wholesale to stores in Lake Providence, Tallulah, Oak Grove, Monroe, and the West Monroe Farmer’s Market. He does like the fact that the Ruston market stipulates that farmers must sell their own produce. To participate in the Ruston market, they have to leave Pioneer at 4:45 a.m. on Saturday morning and get home after 2 p.m. They like the market because they can get a retail price for their produce and interact with the customers. Mack likes his second career because it supplements his retirement income and keeps him physically and socially active.