Tag Archives: Tomato

Tomato Festival Sees Record Crowd

July 21, 2015

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!!)

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

Ugliest Tomato

#1 Kirkview Farm – Carl And Teresa Thoni

#2 Beaverdam Creek Farm – Philip And Teresa Thoni

#3 Blooming Baskets – Rebecca Fly

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:

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 23^rd 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.

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!

Farm Fresh Tomatoes now Arriving

June 23, 2014

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Kelley’s Berries now selling Blackberries and Blueberries

Whew! It was a hot one at the market this past Saturday, but it didn’t seem to matter much as there was quite the crowd looking for those Tennessee farm fresh tomatoes, green beans and delicious blueberries. Who could blame them? There’s nothing like the taste of a real tomato – a tomato with a little bite to it that wakes up the taste buds and makes the mouth go mmmmm good!

Blueberries and blackberries were a big hit too. Lots of fresh berries and lots of baked goods made with those berries helped make the hot day a lot better.

Outstanding crop of Blueberries from Kirkview Farm

Kelley’s Blackberries, just beautiful!

Fresh Green Beans

Green fresh Bell Peppers

Beaverdam Creek Farm fresh produce

Fresh Made Pasta from City Pasta

Fresh baked breads from Jones Mill Farm

Fried Green Tomatoes anyone?

The fresh tomatoes at the FFM are just a preview of what’s to come. Soon, there will be a wide variety of tomatoes at the market that includes a big selection of tasty heirloom tomatoes. That’s a good enough reason for us to celebrate, so we will give the tomato the glory it deserves with our 2nd annual TomatoFest. Our good friends at Amerigo Restaurant have teamed up with us again for this salute to a summertime favorite.

More details are coming soon, but mark your calendar now for July 26th and TomatoFest!

Certified Organic Tomatoes from Delvin Farms

Allenbrooke Farm fresh picked produce

Farm Fresh Produce

Lovin’ a fresh green bean

One more thing – we noticed a lot of you doing the vogue-thing at the FFM this past Saturday as the market paparazzi roamed around snapping photos. Yeah, it was a hot day, but it was pretty cool to be seen at the Franklin Farmers Market. It looks like a lot of you like being a star in the market’s photo gallery. Did you get your picture taken? Is there a great photo of someone you know in the photo gallery?

Delvin Farms organic squash and bell peppers

Fresh Cucumbers taste so much better just picked

Farm Potatoes

Over 30 Different Tomato Varieties Now at the Franklin Farmers Market

August 12, 2013

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Beaverdam Creek Tomatoes

How many tomatoes do you think we had at the Franklin Farmers Market this past Saturday? We’re not sure either, but we could say it was an invasion, because there were tomatoes everywhere. Our Tennessee Farmers bring over 30 different varieties from red and yellow tomatoes, striped and purple tomatoes, big and small cherry tomatoes, including heirloom tomatoes and traditional favorites. Perfect for canning and making relish or just a good old BLT. We love this time of the year, because it’s not just the number of tomatoes that is so high, but all of the other summertime favorites of the garden are ripe and ready to eat.

Bloomsbury Farm Wheat Grass

Farm Fresh picked Peaches and Cream Corn

Farm Fresh Produce and Herbs from Rocky Glade Farm

AssortedTie Dyed Clothing from Pieceful World Clothing

Artisan Woods by Cody

Bags of purple hull peas and green beans were being snapped up at the market, along with okra and bell peppers. Those sweet juicy peaches from Kirkview Farm were also a big hit.

Sweet Peaches and Apples from Rainbow Hill Farm

Kirkview Farms Purple Hull Peas and Melons

Ice Cold Limeade and teas from Lucy’s Kitchen

It was a little hot on Saturday… Okay, it was just flat out hot and muggy. But it didn’t matter. Folks were drinking ice cold, fresh limeade from Lucy’s Kitchen or dipping spoons into sweet delicious gelato from Hatcher’s Dairy to stay cool. And you know what one of the best things is about coming to the market? Even though you know what’s ripe and ready to eat, there’s always something new to enjoy too. Like Delvin Farm’s organic hot & spicy tomato juice. Great for cooking and drinking! Or like Rainbow Hill Farm’s Concord grapes.

Organic Bloody Mary Mix from Delvin Farms organic tomatoes

Concord Grapes from Rainbow Hill Farm

Beautiful Watermelons from Bronnenberg Farm

Circle August 24^th on your calendars, because that’s a big, sweet seed-spittin’ fun day at the farmers market. It’s the Franklin Farmers Market Watermelon Festival, presented by our friends at the Williamson Herald and Southern Exposure Magazine. You don’t want to miss the watermelon seed spitting or the fastest watermelon eating contests. There are games and face painting for the kids, wild watermelon carvings and plenty of ice cold watermelons to enjoy.

Cecil’s Tomatoes from Pocahontas Creek Farms

And finally, you know the old saying about the early bird getting the worm? That’s been the thought about the market too. Get there early to make sure you get the best of the farm fresh produce you want before it runs out. But trying to scope out the fresh picked veggies early at the market could be dangerous. Our Tennessee farmers and vendors start setting up their farm booths early, but there are so many farmers at the market that they all can’t get moved in at the same time. And if they are trying to unload their trucks and set things up, it’s not safe for you to walk around the market.

So we’re asking you to please wait until the market opens to start shopping. The Franklin Farmers Market opens at 8am. When you hear the bell ringing, come on in!

Don’t forget to visit our pictures from Saturday.

Canned Cucumbers from Norton Family Farm

Tomato Season is in Full Swing!

FFM Manager Deb with Lex and Tim from Colbert Farm

These Farm Fresh Tomatoes are hand picked fresh, from the farm, by our Tennessee Farmers and their families as these tomatoes are from Zadok the Natural Farmer

TomatoFest Visitors Enjoy Tomatoes, Food, Contests and Tomato Seed Saving

July 29, 2013

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The Totally Terrific Tomat-Oh voting table had lots of activity to select this years winners

I now have new favorites!

And the word for the day was Tomato, with a capital T. There were tomatoes everywhere you looked – red tomatoes and yellow ones; striped and purple tomatoes; big and small, heirlooms and traditional favorites. It was all part of TomatoFest at the Franklin Farmers Market this past Saturday.

So many different Tomato varieties for tasting

Not only did the farms have oodles of delicious tomatoes to pick from, but there were also lots of tomato samples to try along with scrumptious bites of Italian tomato-based dishes from Amerigo.

Nothing better than Fresh made Salsa from Amerigo

Plus there was the special TomatoFest salsa, made with fresh tomatoes straight from the Allenbrooke Farm. It was truly a tomato-lover’s heaven at the market.

Amerigo Chefs Paul and Steven

Allenbrooke Farm Tomatoes

Preparation of Tomato Jam

Tomato Samples anyone?

Sharon & Jenny presenting over 15 different Tomato varieties to sample

Besides all of the great tomatoes, everyone got the chance to learn how to save tomato and other vegetable seeds. Saving seeds is important as it allows us to preserve heirloom seeds’ genetic diversity.

So much interest in Tomato Seed Saving

Farmer Zadok Johnson explaining the art of Seed Saving

Seeds are the beginning of our existence, our nourishment and how we grow our vegetables

The Johnson Family answering questions about the tomato and its seeds

Beaverdam Creek Farm wins 1st Place

But maybe the best thing about TomatoFest was the Totally Terrific Tomat-Oh! Contest between the farmers at the market. There was certainly a lot beautiful heirloom varieties entered in the contest, but the best were the ones that showed just how creative our farmers can be. The overall grand prize winner came from Beaverdam Creek Farm. It featured a “pineapple” heirloom tomato with a parrot fashioned out of a real pineapple! Kirkview Farms nailed down second place with a couple of tomatoes enjoying the day on the “beach”… surf’s up, dudes! And third place went to Flying S Farms, with their miniature farm scene, complete with a little harvest bucket filled tiny “spoon” tomatoes!

Kirkview Farms wins 2nd Place

Flying S Farm wins 3rd Place

Our thanks to Amerigo Italian Restaurant for sponsoring TomatoFest and to everyone who came out for a fun and tasty day at the Franklin Farmers Market. Tomatoes rule!

Professor Tomato

RV Tomato Protection

1st Place winner Beaverdam Creek Farm

View pictures of the entire TomatoFest day here

Franklin Farmers Market on Talk of the Town

July 24, 2013

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The Franklin Farmers Market was featured on WTVF Channel 5 Talk of the Town today with Lelan Statom and Meryll Rose honoring this years Franklin Farmers Market TomatoFest.

www.newschannel5.com

Franklin Farmers Market Recipe Book “Eating in Seasons”

Gayle Franks represented the Franklin Farmers Market with a tomato pasta recipe from the farmers market new “Eating in Season” recipe cookbook! Gayle chose to prepare and cook the recipe “Fusilli with Raw Tomato” with host Lelan Statom of WTVF News Channel 5 of Nashville, Tennessee. The tomatoes used in today’s recipe were heirloom tomatoes, bradley tomatoes along with other tomato varieties from our farmers market.

Gayle did a wonderful job representing the Franklin Farmers Market on News Channel 5’s Talk of the Town with Lelan Statom. Lelan asked about this years TomatoFest and Gail shared that visitors will be able to taste many of the different varieties of farm fresh tomatoes Tennessee Farmers grow and bring to our farmers market each Saturday morning.

Gayle Franks and Sharon Burbage selecting Heirloom Tomatoes for Talk of the Town Show

Dottie, Sharon and Gayle selling the Eating in Season market recipe cookbook on market Saturday

We expect a big day celebrating the Tomato used in so many fresh healthy food recipes at this Saturday’s Tomato Festival in Franklin, TN. The Eating in Season recipe cookbook is designed to be used with farm fresh ingredients for family fresh cooking. The new Franklin Farmers Market recipe book Eating in Season will be available for purchase every Saturday during market hours 8am till 1pm.

The Eating in Season Recipe Cookbook can be found at the Franklin Farmers Market each Saturday morning from 8am until 1pm

Hope to see you Saturdays at our Tennessee Farmers Market!

Farmers Market Tomato Festival 2013 is this Saturday!

July 23, 2013

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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 27^th, we pay homage to the tomato and celebrate its delicious flavor and versatility.

Heirloom Tomatoes

Salad Tomatoes

Seed Saving Demonstration

Presented 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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Jones Mill Farm specializes in Heirloom Tomatoes

Tomato lovers buy up Tennessee Farm Tomatoes Quickly

July 13, 2013

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The FFM’s “Growing Kids” gardening students love tomatoes too!

Tomato lovers, rejoice! It truly is tomato season at the Franklin Farmers market. Old favorites, like Bradleys and Big Boys are plentiful now, along with beautiful heirloom tomatoes and colorful cherry tomatoes too.

The market really is a tomato lover’s heaven. For proof of that, don’t miss our celebration of the tomato… TomatoFest!

Jones Mill Farm Heirloom Tomatoes

Norton Family Farm Cherry Tomatoes, oh so sweet!

J.R. and Judy of Jones Mill Farm putting out more Heirloom Tomatoes

So many nice ripe and juicy farm fresh tomatoes to choose from

Cherry Tomatoes and Blackberries all around the Market

A crisp 62 degrees brought out so many Foodies!

On July 27th, tomatoes rule the roost at the Franklin Farmers Market with chef demos from Amerigo Italian Restaurant, tomato squashing and seed saving, yummy samples and the Totally Terrific Tomat-Oh! contest.

Mark your calendars now. You don’t want to miss it.

The Market was buzzing with the first crop of Tennessee Silver Queen Corn

And while we love our tomatoes dearly, corn was the king of the day this past Saturday as the first crop of Silver Queen corn arrived at the Franklin Farmers Market. It was snatched up so fast, that it was almost as if the farmers were handing out free money. The King Farm and the Gracy Farm sold out quickly and the other farms soon were out of the sweet kernels too. But if you missed out, no problem. There’ll be even more delicious corn next Saturday at the market.

Market customers helped themselves to fresh corn from the back of pickup trucks

All gone, sold out in just 2 hours

And a sweet treat made its’ first appearance at the market too. Pilgrim’s Produce farm has yummy watermelons. The “Yellow Doll” watermelons went fast, but more watermelons will be back at the market next Saturday.

We are blessed to have such wonderful Farmers! Lucy’s Kitchen visiting with Pilgrims Produce

Just picked Organic Apples from Delvin Farms

All in all, it was a great market. Lots of families roaming around, enjoying the fresh air and fresh food. A lot of new residents to Franklin stop by too, paying their first visit to the market. And our farmers enjoyed the day as much as you did. Thanks for your support of the Franklin Farmers Market!