The Franklin Farmers Market held its 8th annual Tomato Festival on Saturday, July 14^th amid a vibrant crowd. Children were entertained with two bouncy houses, kids games, Magda the Storyspider and face painting. But our local farmers weren’t interested in face painting; they were ready to compete in what has become the bragging right for the year- the best tasting tomato! Visit this link for all the photos of the Tomato Festival. 

 

 

 

 

 

Market customers cast ballots and chose the best tasting tomato in a blind taste test of samples from each farmer. With over eleven farms at the market with homegrown tomatoes, from heirloom to standard, slicing and cherry tomatoes, it was hard for customers to choose just one! 

The contest was divided into two categories: Heirloom Tomatoes and Standard Tomatoes.  The term heirloom is given to the variety of tomato seed that is fifty or more years old. Some heirloom varieties are as much as $1 per seed! The term standard is given to hybrid varieties of tomatoes, grown for their commercially attractive characteristics. Heirloom tomatoes can’t be found in a typical grocery store because they do not ship well. They typically have softer skin and are best eaten within a day of harvest. Whether you like heirloom or standard tomatoes for your BLT’s and salads, you won’t find another market in the middle TN area with the largest selection of homegrown tomatoes. At the Franklin Farmers Market you can try a new variety that can’t be found in a box store and talk with the farmer who grew it. 

After hundreds of ballots were cast by our market customers, the decision was made  and our winners are: 

Best Tasting Heirloom Tomato Winners:

1^st Place- Beaverdam Creek Farm

2^nd Place- Bloomsbury Farm

3^rd Place-Colbert Farm

 

 

 

 

 

Best Tasting Standard Tomato Winners:  

1^st Place- Colbert Farm

2^nd Place- Norton Family Farm

3^rd Place- Delvin Farms

 

 

 

 

 

The decision was announced with much enthusiasm as market staff presented each winning farm with a ribbon and certificate. Another year of bragging rights for our farmers is in the books. 

Festival attendees enjoyed all that our market has to offer- fresh, locally grown produce, locally made artisan goods and four local food trucks for breakfast and lunch. Admission to the festival and the market as always was free.

The Franklin Farmers Market is held every Saturday from 8am-1pm behind the Factory in Franklin, TN. The market is a 16 yr old producers only market with the largest assembly of local farmers providing fresh farm food all year long each Saturday morning. Find us at 230 Franklin Road behind the Factory. Visit us online at www.franklinfarmersmarket.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest market news. Visit this link to view all the photos of the Tomato Festival. 

The Franklin Farmers Market will host its 8th annual Tomato Festival on Saturday, July 14 beginning at 8am. Farmers will vie for the best tasting tomato in the popular taste test judged by you, the customer! Children will have many free activities for fun and entertainment. 

Customers will be in for a real treat with free tomato tasting from our local farmers.  No one will want to miss the tomato-tasting contest with 14 participating farms in the categories of Heirloom or Standard tomatoes.  This year our contest will be a blind taste test judged by the customers attending the market between the hours of 8:00am-11:00am. Winners of the contest will be announced at 11:30am. 

“The farmers market summer season is in full swing now that the “queen” of the farm has made her way to the market. Everyone waits for the perfect homegrown tomato and that wait is finally over! We are honored to have the largest selection of farmers in middle TN in one location, and proud to be a producers only market. You won’t find a better tasting homegrown tomato than right here in Franklin, grown by the farmers who are here,” says Franklin Farmers Market Director, Amy Tavalin. 

It’s a family affair at the Franklin Tomato Festival with free children’s activities that include a bouncy house, tomato storytelling by Magda the Story Spider, free face painting, a balloon artist and kids games. Everyone will enjoy free tomato tastings of locally grown tomatoes from our farmers picked less than 48 hours before the event. You can’t find a better, homegrown event than the Franklin Tomato Festival! 

Festival attendees can enjoy all that our market has to offer- fresh, locally grown produce, locally made artisan goods and local food trucks for breakfast and lunch. Admission to the festival and the market is free.

The Franklin Farmers Market is held every Saturday from 8am-1pm behind the Factory in Franklin, TN. The market is a 16-year-old producers only market with the largest assembly of local farmers providing fresh farm food all year long each Saturday morning. Find us at 230 Franklin Road behind the Factory. Visit us online at www.franklinfarmersmarket.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest market news.