EXTENSION CORNER: Calling all tomato growers, taste-off is July 9
Does a newcomer have the best slicing tomato, or does the Cherokee Purple from Beautiful Rainbow retain its crown? We’ll find out when the Etowah County Tomato Taste-Off returns to the 5th Street Market, at 439 Locust St., on July 9.
The event hosted by the Etowah County Extension Office in partnership with Downtown Gadsden Inc., puts all growers on a level playing field with blind judging.
We know that we have great tomato growers in our community, from patio and backyard gardeners to commercial tomato producers and this is an opportunity to see who has the very best tasting tomato.
There will be prizes in several categories, including best slicing tomatoes, best cherry tomatoes, heaviest tomato and best youth-grown tomato.
The taste-off will be judged blind, and the tomatoes will be tasted raw, without any salt or other addition.
Entrants should bring their tomatoes to the event and register from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Entrants in the slicing tomato contest should bring one tomato, and cherry tomato entrants should bring five tomatoes of the same variety.
Participants are limited to two entries each and should only enter tomatoes they grew themselves. The heaviest tomato and best youth-grown tomato will be awarded separately from all category entries.
In addition to the contest, participants will enjoy unique Extension educational opportunities from 9 a.m. 10 a.m., including presentations and information from the Etowah County Master Gardeners, SNAP-ED Nutrition Information, food preservation, tomato production and more.
The award ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m.
“DGI is excited to be a co-sponsor of this new event. We hope that everyone will come enjoy themselves at the taste off and then take some time to shop, dine and play in downtown Gadsden,” DGI Director Kay Moore said.
If you have questions about the taste-off or any other area under the Extension umbrella, please reach out or stop by our office at 3200A W. Meighan Blvd., call us at 256-547-7936 or visit us on Facebook at https://bit.ly/3otwUdl or online at https://bit.ly/3yniPCx.
The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Everyone is welcome! Please let us know if you have accessibility needs.
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Eric Wright is extension coordinator for the Etowah County Extension Office.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Extension, DGI combine to host Etowah County Tomato Taste-Off
