Alexander Livingston, originally from Reynoldsburg, Ohio, was a pioneer in the seeding industry. He began his farming career in 1844 when he leased some farmland. In 1852, he was able to purchase his own farm. He moved to Des Moines, Iowa and started a seed company in 1880. It wasn’t until 1898, however, that his company came to be known as Livingston Seed Company.
Livingston and his company created over 30 different varieties of tomato. He planned and worked to improve the shape, texture, flavor, as well as many other characteristics about the fruit. His first release was in 1870 and was called the Paragon. It is claimed that this tomato is the first perfectly uniform and smooth tomato on the market. In the 1930s, their industry began to change. Livingston’s company was struggling to survive and moved into field seeds. In doing this, they decided to drop tomatoes from their line. Even so, A. W. Livingston’s legacy is the tomato.
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