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27th Annual Massachusetts
Tomato Contest 2011

Winners of the 2011 Tomato Contest:

Slicing / Field Grown Tomatoes

Farm Name Town Variety Place
Idylwilde Farm Acton Black Velvet 1
Verrill Farm Concord Dafel 2
Ward's Berry Farm Sharon Scarlet Red 3
Red Fire Farm Granby Geranimo 4
Freitas Farm Middleboro Super Steak 5
Freitas Farm Middleboro Trust 6
Red Fire Farm Granby BHN-589 7
MacArthur Holliston Trust 8
Ward's Barry Farm Sharon Big Beef 9
Cape Abilities Farm Hyannis Trust2 10

Cherry Tomatoes

Farm Name Town Variety Place
Ward's Berry Farm Sharon Sun Gold 1
Ward's Berry Farm Sharon Mini Charm 2
Freitas Farm Middleboro Sun Gold 3
Red Fire Farm Granby Matt's Wild 4
Macone Farm Concord Sun Gold 5
Wilson Farm Lexington Matt's Wild 6
Kimbal Fruit Farm Pepperell Sun Sugar 7
Marini Farm Ipswich Sun Gold 8
Grant's Plant Essex Sun Cherry 9
Verrill Farm Concord Sun Gold 10

Heirloom Category

Farm Name Town Variety Place
Stillman's Farm New Braintree Striped German 1
Red Fire Farm Granby Brandywine 2
Verrill Farm Concord Moskovitch 3
Macone Farm Concord Pondarosa Pink 4
Red Fire Farm Granby Wapsipinicon Peach 5
Verrill Farm Concord Rose 6
Macone Farm Concord Macone Heirloom 7
Wilson Farm Lexington Harris Beefsteak 8
Macone Farm Concord Mr. Stripey 9
Ward's Berry Farm Sharon Paul Robeson 10

Heaviest Tomatoes

Farm Name Town Variety Weight Place
Verril Farm Concord Aussie 3.210 1
Volante Farm Needham Orange Persimmon 3.010 2
Taft Farms Gt Barrington Mortgae Lifter 2.730 3
Red Fire Granby Brandywine 2.505 4
Kimball Fruit Farm Hollis Aussie 2.430 5
Macone Farm Concord Mr. Stripey 2.415 6
Rota Spring Farm Sterling Primo 2.080 7
Farmer Daves Dracut Brandywine 2.025 8
Charlie's Red House Farm Winchendon Striped German 2.015 9
Ward's Berry Farm Sharon Striped German 1.865 10

The event was sponsored by the New England Vegetable and Berry Growers Association in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. This friendly contest is designed to increase consumer awareness of local agriculture.

Schedule of Events:
9:00 am to 10:15 am – Tomato drop-off and registration
10:30 am – Judging of tomatoes by panel of experts
12:30 pm– Presentation of awards

If you cannot attend the contest on Monday, tomato entries can be dropped off Saturday August 20th or Sunday, August 21st at a number of locations across the state. Please contact one of the following representatives to confirm drop-off entry(s).Tomatoes that are dropped off will be brought to Boston for judging. See below for a list for drop-off sites.

Tomato Contest Criteriatomato

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 such that it will bruise if dropped, yet is not over-ripe or soft.

Exterior Color: 5 points possible The winning tomato has a uniform color, is free of green shoulders and has no evidence of blotchy ripening.

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.


Drop-off Locations

***Please submit a registration form with entries*** [PDF]

Northeastern Massachusets:

  • Verrill Farm - 978-369-4494, 11 Wheeler Rd, Concord

Southeastern Massachusetts:

  • Noquochoke Orchards - 617-416-2140, 594 Drift Rd, Westport

Central Massachusetts:

  • Stillman Farm - 978-537-3342, 1399 Lancaster Ave., Lunenburg

Western Massachusetts:

  • Randall's Farm - 413-589-7071, 631 Center Street, Ludlow

For more information on the Tomato Contest, please contact:

David Webber, 617-626-1754, David.Webber@state.ma.us