MDFA News Release: Tomato Contest Winners 2002

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News Release

August 19, 2002

CONTACT: Diane Baedeker Petit, 617-626-1752, Diane.Baedeker@state.ma.us

Top Tomatoes in the Bay State Named for 2002!

BOSTON -- Tomatoes from farms across Massachusetts competed for top honors in the 18th Annual Massachusetts Tomato Contest and Festival held today at Boston City Hall Plaza. The event kicks-off Massachusetts Farmers' Market Week and was held in conjunction with the City Hall Plaza farmers' market.

More than 50 tomato entries competed for first, second, or third place tomato awards in the slicing, cherry and/or heirloom categories. Tomato trophies are awarded to the top three winners in each category and certificates are given to the top ten winners in each category.

A panel of judges, including food media, chefs and produce specialists, evaluated the entries from commercial growers on shape, color and flavor, with more value given to flavor.

And the judges were not just seeing red. This year's contest saw a rainbow of entries from yellow slicing and cherry tomatoes to orange, rose, black and striped tomatoes in the heirloom category. Heirloom varieties -- older, unusual varieties that are no longer widely grown by commercial growers -- are gaining in popularity again.

The Tomato Festival also included tomato sampling for the public, cooking demonstrations featuring local farmers' market produce, and recipes, nutrition information and information on local agriculture.

Massachusetts is the largest tomato producing state in New England, growing some 55 million pounds of tomatoes annually with a farm-gate value of $4.6 million. More than 550 acres are dedicated to tomato production in the Bay State which ranks 18th in tomato production nationally.

The annual Massachusetts Tomato Contest is sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture, the New England Vegetable and Berry Growers Association, and the Federation of Massachusetts Farmers' Markets.

Massachusetts Tomato Contest Winners, 2002

Slicing Category

1st Place: Blue Heron Farm, Franklin, variety: Trust

2nd Place: Ward's Berry Farm, Sharon, variety: Sunbeam

3rd Place: Gove Farm, Leominster, variety: Merced

4th Place: Red Fire Farm, Granby, variety: Red Sun

5th Place: Gove Farm, Leominster, variety: Prime Time

6th Place: Freitas Farm, Middleboro, variety: Mountain Spring

7th Place: Duckenfield Farm, Norfolk, variety: Beefsteak

8th Place: Stillman Farm, New Braintree, variety: Jet Star

9th Place: Stillman Farm, New Braintree, variety: Market Pride

10th Place: Red Fire Farm, Granby, variety: Jet Star

Cherry Category

1st Place: Red Fire Farm, Granby, variety: Matt's Wild Cherry

2nd Place: Freitas Farm, Middleboro, variety: Sun Gold

3rd Place: Freitas Farm, Middleboro, variety: Matt's Wild Cherry

4th Place: Red Fire Farm, Granby, variety: Sun Gold

5th Place: Ward's Berry Farm, Sharon, variety: Sun Cherry

6th Place: Arena Farm, Concord, variety: Sun Gold

7th Place: Ward's Berry Farm, Sharon, variety: Sweet 100

8th Place: Keown Orchards, Sutton, variety: Chello

9th Place: Arena Farm, Concord, variety: St. Nick Grape

10th Place: MacArthur Farm, Holliston, variety: Grape

Heirloom Category

1st Place: Ward's Berry Farm, Sharon, variety: Cherokee Purple

2nd Place: Red Fire Farm, Granby, variety: Rose de Burn

3rd Place: Red Fire Farm, Granby, variety: Speckled Roman

4th Place: Red Fire Farm, Granby, variety: Brandywine

5th Place: Keown Orchards, Sutton, variety: Brandywine

6th Place: Ward's Berry Farm, Sharon, variety: Brandywine

7th Place: Ward's Berry Farm, Sharon, variety: Black Krim

8th Place: Stillman Farm, New Braintree, variety: Jersey Devil

9th Place: Stillman Farm, New Braintree, variety: Brandywine

Heaviest Category

1st Place: Ward's Berry Farm, Sharon, variety: Striped German, weight: 1.88 pounds

2nd Place: Gove Farm, Leominster, variety: Mountain Fresh, weight: 1.87 pounds

3rd Place: Arena Farm, Concord, variety: Beefmaster, weight: 1.67 pounds

4th Place: Red Fire Farm, Granby, variety: Rose, weight: 1.22 pounds

Photo Gallery

Click photos to view/download a larger, high-res version

The winning entry in the Field category from Blue Heron Farm, Franklin.

(L-R) Commissioner Doug Gillespie presents awards to winners Linda Massad of Blue Heron Farms, Franklin, Adam Voiland of Red Fire Farm, Granby, and Nat Arena of Arena Farm, Concord.

Nat Arena of Arena Farms, Concord, weighs an entry in the Heaviest category.

Scott Freitas of Freitas Farm in Middleboro sells his winning tomatoes at the Boston City Hall Farmers' Market.

Blue Heron Farm, Franklin, received the 1st Place trophy in the Field category for these tomatoes.

This 1.88 pound "Striped German" tomato grown at Ward's Berry Farm in Sharon took the Heaviest award.

The first, second and third place heavy weights of the contest.

This heirloom variety -- Speckled Roman -- entered by Red Fire Farm, Granby, placed third in the category.

(L-R) Judges Gloria Gioseffi of the Culinary Guild and food writer Ethel Goralnik evaluate entries in the Heirloom category.

(L-R) Judges Paul Sacco, Director of the Mass. Office of Travel and Tourism and Bob Heiss of WSRI radio, Northampton, discuss entries in the Field category.