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ANNUAL MASSACHUSETTS TOMATO CONTEST

By October 30, 2019 No Comments

Please join us for the 32nd annual Massachusetts Tomato Contest on Wednesday, August 24 in the KITCHEN at the Boston Public Market, 100 Hanover Street, Boston.Tomatoes will be judged by a panel of experts on flavor, firmness/slicing quality, exterior color and shape. The contest is sponsored by the New England Vegetable and Berry Growers Association in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and Mass Farmers’ Markets and hosted by the Boston Public Market Association and Trustees of Reservations. This friendly contest is open to commercial tomato growers and is designed to increase consumer’s awareness of local agriculture.

At the Boston Public Market Demonstration Kitchen, 100 Hanover Street, Boston

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016

Schedule of Events:

9:00 am to 10:45 am – Tomato drop-off and registration
11:00 am – Judging of tomatoes by panel of experts
1:00 pm– Presentation of awards

Tomato Contest Criteria

  • Flavor: 10 points possible. The perfect tomato should have a strong tomato taste, be slightly acidic, juicy and fresh tasting with a tender skin.
  • Firmness/Slicing Quality: 5 points possible. A desirable tomato should have a dense uniform thick wall with many seed cavities, completely filled with a jelly-like mass. The firmness of the tomato should be pleasing, not too mushy and not too hard. It should be such that it will bruise if dropped, yet is not over-ripe.
  • Exterior Color: 5 points possible. The winning tomato has a uniform color, is free of green shoulders and has no evidence of blotchy ripening or other defects.
  • Shape: 5 points possible. Tomatoes come in different shapes and sizes, depending on the variety. Their shape should be symmetrical, but most important, the tomatoes in each entry should be uniform in size.

PRIZES: First, second, and third place tomato trophies will be awarded in all four categories.

Top 5 certificates will also be given in each category.

How to Register:

Each farm entry is required to submit a registration form  . All of the required tomato details and categories are explained on the registration form.

Drop-off Locations

If you are unable to bring your entry(s) to Boston, drop them at one of the locations below.

Drop off is scheduled for Tuesday, August 23 from 9:00am – 3:00pm at the following locations. *A registration form is required with each farm entry.

Eastern Massachusetts:

Mass Farmers Markets Office, 240 Beaver Street, 2nd Floor, Waltham – 781-893-8222

Central Massachusetts:

Davidian Bros. Farm,  500 Church St, Northboro – 508-393-3444

Western Massachusetts:

MDAR Western MA Office, 101 University Drive, Suite C4, Amherst, 01002 – 413-548-1900

For more information or questions regarding the Tomato Contest contact Julia.Grimaldi@state.ma.us, 617-626-1763.

WHEN
August 24, 2016 at 9am – 2pm