Serving up a huge slice of red heaven

Published 8:00 am Wednesday, September 6, 2006

POULSBO — With a mixture of sun, soil and the right spark, this year’s local tomato crop is ready to throw down during the Third Annual Tomato Taste Off at the Poulsbo Farmers Market. Five judges will pick the best of the best to represent the tomato harvest at the Sept. 9 event.

Each tomato has a change in four categories: cherry/pear, slicing, salad and paste. Different tomato growers will face off in their bracket to prove their offerings are the best to eat.

“This year’s crop is looking great,” said PFM manager Jackie Aitchison. “People have tomatoes. The season was better than last year’s. We’ve had a warmer, dryer summer, which has really allowed tomatoes to grow.”

Last year’s event was postponed because the gray, wet summer weather didn’t give the tomatoes a chance to ripen until later in the season. Event organizer Ann Pyles, owner of Smokey Tree Farms, said this year they took that into account and schedule the tomato tasting in September instead of August.

“Everything is looking fine,” Pyles said of the juicy crop. “There was a two-week later harvest to start with, so we planned accordingly. Home growers are just beginning to see their tomatoes ripen.”

That two-week difference had to do with the warm weather in July and early August, she said. But all that is in the past, and commercial growers and home growers alike are ready to show off their best fruit.

This year’s judges will have a number of criteria they apply to each and every tomato, Pyles said. The flavor, appearance and texture must all be taken into account. In each division, the judges must pay attention to the specific type of tomato, whether it be a cherry, La Roma or Beef Master. For example, if a tomato is entered into the slicing category, it will be judged on how well it holds up while being cut, Aitchison said. Does it fall apart or is it mushy? Does it hold its shape well? Those are questions the judges must ask in determining a champion, she said.

“The judging is based on appearance and taste primarily,” Aitchison said. “A lot is placed on taste and texture.”

“It’s really interesting,” said Poulsbo Mayor Kathryn Quade, who was a judge at last year’s event. “I never realized there are so many different flavors of tomatoes. I was really impressed by the variety of taste and color in each tomato.”

Each winner will receive a goodie bag with PFM merchandise and a cookbook, Pyles said. There will also be one grand prize winner, who will take home $100.

“Last year’s winner was a home grower,” she said, adding that individual gardeners shouldn’t be intimidated by the commercial growers. “And be sure to bring plenty of extra tomatoes. After the event, we serve them to the public.”

Anyone interested in entering a tomato or two should show up at the Poulsbo Farmers Market, on the corner of Iverson Street and 7th Avenue, at 9 a.m. Sept. 9 Judging starts at 10 a.m. and the winners will be announced at noon.