2014 TASTE of TOMATO Voting Results

This year we again had a really great time at the 4^th Annual Taste of Tomato. In spite of a chilly and foggy start to the morning, lots of gardeners and other tomato enthusiasts came out to share their tasty tomato successes and learn what other tomato treasures are growing well for gardeners in our area.  Participants also received up-to-date tomato-growing advice from Master Gardeners and Harlequin’s Gardens staff, learned how to save seeds from their tomatoes, and eight lucky people won valuable door-prizes.

A total of 64 different varieties were entered or donated, and quite a few of them were varieties we’ve not seen before. Carol O’Meara, Boulder County Extension Agent, donated samples of several varieties bred for resistance to Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV). Ollin Farms donated several new varieties, and Aspen Moon Farms donated the renowned heirloom Costoluto Genovese, which we had not seen much of in previous tastings. Some of the ‘old favorites’, like Brandywine, Pineapple, Aunt Ruby’s German Green and Kellogg’s Breakfast were missing from this year’s tasting. Every year is so different; this year many gardeners said their tomatoes were quite late to ripen because of the cool weather, some had significant disease problems, and many were very glad that they had started their tomato plants early in Solar Caps, enabling them to get earlier and bigger harvests.

When you view the results, bear in mind that each participant got to vote for only their top 5 favorites, and that samples of some varieties were in short supply, limiting the number of participants who got to taste them.  And some samples arrived either very early or very late in the event, again limiting their exposure. Some samples may not have been fully ripe, and their full flavor and sugars not fully developed. Of course everyone has their own palate, too. In view of all these factors, even if a variety received only one vote, it was still among somebody’s top 5, and that’s pretty good.  I personally found at least 8 favorites this year, and had to think hard about which ones to leave out.

Every spring, Harlequin’s Gardens nursery grows and sells organic starts for more than 60 different varieties of tomato.  Many of them are varieties that ranked high at Taste of Tomato events.  Check the Harlequin’s Gardens website for our list of vegetable starts each year at https://www.harlequinsgardens.com/plants/edibles/vegetables/

Big thanks to all of you who shared tomatoes, and to all the volunteers – you make it all possible! Please join us again next year for an even bigger and better 5^th Annual Taste of Tomato!