When you think of baby food, chances are the first brand that comes to mind is Gerber. In 1927 in Fremont, Michigan the company was founded by Daniel Frank Gerber. Daniel Gerber was originally in the business of canned fruits and vegetables but decided to make strained foods for babies at his wife’s suggestion. Today, Gerber is the go-to brand of baby food across the US and throughout much of the world.
Gerber has also long been famous for something else – the Gerber Baby! That baby face that appears as the logo on all of those jars of puree is one of the most recognizable brands. Have you ever wondered who that baby was?
If you’ve ever had baby food, you’re for sure familiar with the Gerber brand.
Gerber was started by Daniel Frank Gerber and his wife, a pediatrician.
Today, the Gerber brand is virtually synonymous with baby food.
One reason is their iconic logo: the Gerber Baby!
So who is that adorable baby?
The Gerber Baby is actually a lovely little old lady called Anne Turner Cook. Here she is in 1998, posing with the charcoal portrait that made her famous.
The original charcoal sketch was done by family friend Dorothy Hope Smith, in 1927. One year later, Gerber launched a contest to find the face of their brand. Smith submitted her sketch, promising to finish it if it was chosen, but Gerber ended up loving the “rough” version so much that they just went with it!
Dorothy is a retired English teacher and mystery novelist.
Here she is on her 90th birthday!
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