This is Bob Myers from the Historical Society of Michigan with a Michigan history moment. Dorothy Gerber was frustrated. The year was 1927, and she was trying to make pureed peas for her daughter, Sally. It was hot, messy work. Her husband, Daniel Gerber, came home from work and commented that making pureed peas couldn't be that difficult. Dorothy told him to try it himself. He did. An hour later, he admitted defeat. Dorothy asked, if you can puree tomatoes down at the plant, why can't you puree peas? Daniel Gerber worked for his father's business, the Fremont Canning Company in Fremont, Michigan. Daniel took his wife's idea to his father, Frank Gerber, who suggested that he experiment with making strained baby food. Such products were available, but they were expensive and sold only at drugstores. Daniel showed some samples to the family pediatrician in Grand Rapids, who liked them and offered encouragement. By late 1927, the Fremont Canning Company offered spinach, carrots, peas, prunes and vegetable soup for babies. Dorothy gave free samples to her friends. They loved them. Jars of Gerber's Baby Food soon appeared on local grocery store shelves. Gerber originally planned to call its product Sally's Soups, but instead opted for Gerber Baby Food. Priced at only 15 cents a can, it was a hit. The American Medical association gave Gerber Baby Food its seal of approval. Good Housekeeping and Parents magazine carried advertisements for the new product. The iconic image of the Gerber baby originated in 1928 when the Fremont Canning Company held a contest to find a face for its brand. Artist Dorothy Hope Smith submitted an unfinished charcoal sketch and said that she would finish the drawing if it won. Smith's drawing won, but the contest judges loved it exactly the way it was. Since 1931, the Gerber Baby has served as the company symbol. Over the years, there have been many urban myths about the identity of the Gerber baby. One version claims that the picture is an infant Humphrey Bogart. Others say that it's one of the Gerber's own children. The truth is, Dorothy Hope Smith used little Ann Turner Cook, whose parents lived next door, as her model. In 1941, the Fremont Canning Co. Became Gerber Products Co. In 1993, it was sold to Sandoz Laboratories and then to Nestle in 2007. Today, Gerber continues to produce baby food and products for a worldwide market. This Michigan history moment was brought to you by michiganhistorymagazine.org.