Tag Archives: heirloom

Tomato Festival Sees Record Crowd

Many many thanks to everyone who helped make this the most successful TomatoFest we have had yet at market!!  Despite the heat and humidity we had record crowds (Jim Perley who monitors our trash and replenishes the bags said it was an “18 trash bag day”- which is a BOAT LOAD of customers!!)  DSC00260
 
Thank you to all the farms who entered the contests and provided the heirloom and hybrid varieties for the customers to taste!  Everyone enjoyed the competition and the tomato sampling at the judges table.  
Winners of the tomato Contests:
Best Tasting Heirloom
  #1 Sturbridge Farm – Alex Jackson  —    Cherokee Chocolate
  #2 Flying S Farm   – Ben And Catherine Simmons  — Chocolate Heirloom
  #3 Beaverdam Creek Farm –  Philip And Trish Lingo — Black Krim
Best Tasting Hybrid
  #1 Delvin Farms –  Hank And Cindy Delvin — Cherry Hybrid
  #2 Colbert Farm — Tim Colbert –Cherry Hybrid
  #3 Beaverdam Creek Farm – Philip And Trish Lingo — Genuine Hybrid
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Ugliest Tomato
  #1 Kirkview Farm – Carl And Teresa Thoni
  #2 Beaverdam Creek Farm – Philip And Teresa Thoni

  #3 Blooming Baskets –  Rebecca Fly

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Theresa Thoni with the award winning Ugliest Tomato.

A big thank you to our sponsor of tomatofest – Amerigo’se Paul Schramkowski and to Chef Steven Robilio for appearing on Talk of the Town this week to showcase his wonderful Panzanela Salad!  The customers raved over his fabulous creation Saturday!
 
Thank you to our judges for the event who donated their time on a hot, summer Saturday to help judge the tight competition among our farmer vendors.  Judged included:

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Paul Schramkowski helps as judge and event sponsor. Yes, even Paul could not resist sneaking away and getting some of Danny’s famous Ellie’s Doughnuts.

 
Paul Schramkowski
Owner of Amerigo’s and Etch Restaurant.  Amerigo’s is a sponsor of the Franklin Farmer’s Market
Ellie Westman Chin
President and CEO of the Williamson County Convention & Visitors Bureau
 
Senator Jack Johnson
Tennessee Senator for the 23rd district, which is composed of Williamson County.
 
Tracy Kornet
Tracy Kornet is a five-time Emmy Award winning news anchor, host and writer for WSMV-TV Channel 4.
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What a great event and we want to thank all of our customers who help support us each week by shopping with our farmers at the market.  Looking for a great tomato festival next year!

Farmers Market Tomato Festival 2013 is this Saturday!

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The Totally Terrific Tomat-OH! Contest

Forget about having four seasons. There are really only two – tomato season and not tomato season. No other vegetable exemplifies summer like a ripe, juicy tomato fresh from the garden. From salads to sauces, tomatoes can be found in almost every meal. The lyrics of the “Homegrown Tomato” song by Guy Clark says it all: “You can eat ‘em with eggs, you can ‘em with gravy, you eat ‘em with beans, pinto or navy.” So it’s only appropriate that we salute summer’s most popular veggie with TomatoFest at the Franklin Farmers Market.  On Saturday, July 27th, we pay homage to the tomato and celebrate its delicious flavor and versatility.

Heirloom Tomatoes

Heirloom Tomatoes

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Salad Tomatoes

Tomato Seeds

Seed Saving Demonstration

Amerigo-Logo-newsletterPresented by Amerigo, TomatoFest features cooking demonstrations with tomatoes from the market’s farmers, samples of both heirloom and a variety of popular tomatoes, a tomato seed–saving class and the ultimate title for tomato greatness with the Totally Terrific Tomat-Oh! contest. With all of their incredible pasta and Italian dishes, the chefs of Amerigo are experts at creating dishes featuring fresh tomatoes.

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Delvin Farm Organic Cherry Tomatoes

You’ll have the chance to watch and sample as Chef Stephen from the Cool Springs location of Amerigo prepares Panzanella Salad with heirloom tomatoes and fresh mozzarella; fresh tomato Pomodoro Sauce over pasta and Tomato Jam served on crostini with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese.

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Multi-colored Heirloom Tomatoes

You can taste the goodness of both heirloom and wide variety of tomato favorites during our taste-test demos too. Or learn more about sustainable agriculture through the seed saving demonstration from Zadock, the Natural Farmer.

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Rocky Glade Farm Tomatoes

Pick up delicious tomato-based baked goods at the Franklin Farmers Market during TomatoFest, such as the Tomato Pie from Norton Family Farm. It’s the ultimate in yummy comfort food.

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Sweet Cherry Tomatoes from Norton Family Farm

Don’t miss out on the special TomatoFest salsa and chips either, prepared by Amerigo from  the fresh ingredients of Allenbrooke Farms. And of course, the farmers at the market have the fresh, truly ripe tomatoes you crave. It’s a tomato-lover’s heaven… TomatoFest at the Franklin Farmers Market!

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Jones Mill Farm specializes in Heirloom Tomatoes