It all began in 1948 when the Poteet Rotary Club organized the first event in an effort to provide returning Word War 11 veterans an incentive to return to the farms. The clubs second aim was to improve the pack of berries so buyers would receive a uniform pint, flat, or crate of strawberries. The primary purpose of the festival is to promote Poteet’s premier strawberries, now an endangered crop. Another major purpose is providing scholarships to educate the youth of Poteet with festival proceeds. The festival has also become a major economic generator for south Texas and Atacosa County, pouring an estimated $10-$12 million into the South Texas economy. In addition, the annual berry fest is now a major tourism attraction for the state and the greater southwest United States. People from all over. Over 100 groups from South Texas take part. Among those groups are 30+ non profit churches, civic, and school organizations which prepare and serve the taste tempting foods served on the festival grounds. On behalf of the Poteet Strawberry Festival Association, food booth chair, Carlos Torres, constantly monitors the condition of the booths and the quality of the food being served during festival weekend to insure food superiority and festival guests’ safety.