Tomatoes for Troops

This film, produced by the Victorian Department of Agriculture, is an example of propaganda for the war effort, encouraging farmers to grow tomatoes for the armed forces during the Second World War. The film includes footage of soldiers on the Kokoda Trail, and outlines the importance of vegetables for the armed forces in combat overseas.

The film takes the viewer through the stages of tomato production on a mass scale, showing the process of collecting, disinfecting and washing seeds; cultivating and fertilising the soil; planting the seedlings and maximising growth. The film then outlines common diseases and pests that threaten the healthy growth of tomato plants, such as spotted wilt, tomato moths and weevils, along with preventative measures to mitigate these risks.

Finally, the film shows the industrial-scale quality assessment and canning of tomatoes in a factory. The final product, shown in the hands of an active soldier, is a can of SPC peeled tomatoes.