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Tomato Time at the Farmers’ Market

Posted on July 24, 2008July 28, 2008 by Staff

Willie Brooks stands over a pile of ripe tomatoes at the farmers’ market. Photo by Jordan Timpy.by Susan Dickson
Staff Writer

Tomato enthusiasts, get ready – the peak of tomato season has arrived, and it’s time to head on down to the Carrboro Farmers’ Market to sample some of the area’s best varieties.

For the past eight years, the Carrboro Farmers’ Market has featured a tomato tasting during a Saturday market at the height of tomato season, but this year things are changing slightly.

On Saturday, the market will host Tomato Day, which will feature more than just a tomato sampling.

“To keep everybody trying the same tomatoes throughout the morning and actually getting the opportunity to learn about the different types, we thought we could do that better with a tomato day,” said Sarah Blacklin, director of the market. “Sometimes with a tasting, we’re only left with a couple of different varieties by the end of the day, and not everybody gets the opportunity to try everything.”

The annual tomato tasting attracts more than the usual hordes of people at a summer Saturday market – last year, about 5,000 tomato fans showed up to partake in the vast tomato spread, and Blacklin said she expects the same crowds this year.

Tomato Day will feature more than 60 varieties of tomatoes, grown by about 20 different farms at the market. Varieties include commonly known tomatoes such as big beef and German Johnson and lesser-known types like Kellogg’s breakfast, brandywine and mountain springs.

“We have so many farmers that have tomatoes in different varieties,” Blacklin said. “Then we have some people who have perfected their basic red.”

Joan Holeman, owner of Flat River Nursery in Timberlake, said she and her husband grow about 20 different kinds of tomatoes.

Her favorite? The trust tomato.

“It’s sweet, but it’s got a tart taste too,” she said.

Holeman said the trick to growing tomatoes is what you feed them. In addition, they use all organic sprays, and don’t use any sprays on some plants.

Don Brooks, owner of Brooks Farm in Timberlake, said he’s found success using non-organic sprays, which he thinks are less toxic for tomatoes.

Brooks has been farming tomatoes for 15 years and grows 12 different kinds. His most popular tomatoes are German Johnson and big beef, he said.

Tomato Day displays will include bisected tomatoes and descriptions of each type, as well as recipes, food-pairing recommendations and acidity level information.

In addition, visitors to the market can get a tomato map of the market identifying the different tomato farmers and where tomato buyers can find particular varieties.

For more information, visit carrborofarmersmarket.com.

“Big beef” tomatoes are unloaded for sale under the McAdams Farm tent at the Farmers’ Market on Saturday. By Jordan Timpy.

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