Tomatoes were everywhere you looked – there’s no way you could have missed them. There were tomatoes all over the market this past Saturday during TomatoFest. Whether they were red, striped, green, yellow, orange or purple, it was tomato heaven.
Market customers came early for this years Tomato Festival 2014
CSA customers could not resist red juicy sweet tomatoes at Allenbrooke Farm
Over 30 different tomato varieties to choose from now at the Franklin Farmers Market
Beautiful and just picked from Colbert Farm
From tasting the many samples of heirloom and traditional favorite tomatoes to enjoying fresh gazpacho and tomato jam prepared on the spot by our friends at Amerigo Italian Restaurant, TomatoFest 2014 was a big, juicy, delicious kind of a day.
Amerigo Italian Restaurant Chefs Paul and Stephen used their culinary skills for great tasking tomato treats
The sweet smell of Amerigo Italian Restaurant Chefs preparing a culinary delight
There’s no doubt that all of the tomatoes were delicious, but which ones were the absolute best to eat? We let a panel of judges decide that for us.
Tomato Festival Judges had the best job of tasting all tomato tasting contest entries
Market volunteers helped make the day a total success
Tomato Festival Judge Derby Jones of Williamson Herald loving some tomato tasting
Tomato Judges Nancy Williams looking on as Kari Jarrell enjoys tasting an Heirloom Tomato
And when it was all done, the judges picked the following farms as having the best ones: The Top Tomato in the heirloom category was grown by Sturbridge Farm. The second place heirloom tomato came from the Colbert Farm, while third place was won by Beaverdam Creek Farm.
Market customers enjoyed tasting Heirloom Tomatoes to determine which they liked best
1st Place Best Tasting Heirloom Tomato went to Sturbridge Farm
2nd Place Best Tasting Heirloom Tomato winner Colbert Farm
3rd Place Best Tasting Heirloom Tomato winner Beaverdam Creek Farm
But apparently, the Top Tomato contest was just a little bit harder in the standard tomato category. First place went to the Colvin Family Farm, but second place was a tie between Blooming Baskets and Allenbrooke Farm.
1st Place Best Tasting Hybrid Tomato winner Colvin Family Farm
Big and juicy sweet tomatoes from local Tennessee Farmers
2nd Place Best Tasting Hybrid Tomato winner (Tie) Blooming Baskets
2nd Place Best Tasting Hybrid Tomato winner (Tie) Allenbrooke Farms
The same thing happened with third place – it was a tie between Delvin Farms and Kirkview Farm!
3rd Place Best Tasting Hybrid Tomato Winner (Tie) Delvin Farms
3rd Place Best Tasting Hybrid Tomato winner (Tie) Kirkview Farm
All in all, TomatoFest was a great day and judging by the crowd at the market, we all agree on one thing – tomatoes rule!
The market paparazzi snapped a lot of great photos at TomatoFest. Did we get one of you? Find out now with a look at the Franklin Farmers Market photo gallery!