For the history buffs…found this to be an interesting read.
-Because they held competitions for farmers to submit the best examples of each tree crop, often published in rural newspapers, they were able to crowdsource the best genetics from across the Eastern Seaboard. Many of the finalist submissions became named cultivars that were propagated by Hershey and others for decades to come. These often came from old farmsteads in the South that had preserved the trees from pre-industrial times - farmsteads that often have since been paved over and developed.
“Fall of ‘65 with no rain - grass growth at a “stall”, 60 young [persimmon] trees fed our 25 herd 2 months, grew and fattened; 15 sheep 4 weeks, from late September till last week of November, then started to look for hay. Think of it. With little loss of hay and pasture crop in the orchard this tremendous crop of persimmons, 35% sugar, 10% protein plus many other feed elements; plus the potent oil and protein in seed it really excites you. Can you afford to slug along without them?”
— John Hershey, Nut Tree Nurseries Catalog for 1966
Pictures and more great history here-