The tomatoes took center stage at Saturday’s 11th annual EastMont Tomato Festival. The main debate during the event was whether the tomato was a vegetable or a fruit.
Of course, it’s a fruit, according to the emcee. The can be yellow or green depending on the way you like to eat or even grow them.
The fruit originated in western South America and like many things was brought to this country by early settlers.
The United States Department of Agriculture states Americans eat 22-24 pounds of tomatoes per person annually and many Americans grow them at home or in community garden.
Local folklore is that eastern Montgomery County used to be rich in tomato growers, thus the perfect reason to celebrate its existence.
The local festival has gone as far to have its own song, which makes it all true:
“Ain’t nothin’ in the world that I like better than bacon ‘n lettuce n’ East Mont tomatoes; up in the mornin’, out in the garden, get you a ripe one, don’t pick a hard un’, plant’ em in the spring, eat’ em in the summer, winter without’ em is a culinary bummer, I forget about the sweatin’ and the diggin’, every time go out and pick me a big ‘um. East Mont tomatoes, East Mont tomatoes, What would life be without East Mont tomatoes? Only two things that money can’t buy, that’s true love and East Mont tomatoes.”
Individuals were able to sample different varieties of tomatoes and items like fried green tomatoes, BLT’s, tomato biscuits and tomato pizza. As expected, everything had a tomato theme.
There were also the Tomato Olympics where youngsters ran through tomato-themed challenges and obstacle course. The younger age group was also able to throw rotten tomatoes at a “human target.”
Entries were taken for tomato art contests, best-tasting tomato recipes and the grand finale “tomato eating contest.”
John Bland, who was the nine-time eating champ, served as the judge for the eating competition. He announced his retirement from the sport, shortly before the proceedings.
The tomato-eating winners this year were, in the kids division, Chase Novak, Soren Marshall and Gracie Walker; the adult division winners were Steve Novak, Lisa Korb and Mike Mars.
The festival also took the opportunity to honor Meadowbrook Librarian Cindy Minnick as its volunteer of the year.
She has organized the “fried green tomato” part of the event for the past nine years. The award is named in honor of the late-Karen Cronin, who helped organize the festival in its early years.
There Were Also The Tomato Pageant Winners: Cherry Tomato Baby-Ages 0-3, Winner: Melody July Largen; Tomato Princess-Ages 4-39, Winner: Gracie Walker; Tomato Prince-Ages 4-39, Winner: Jerry Wu; Heirloom Queen-Ages >39, Winner: Cara Gangloff; And Heirloom King-Ages >39, Winner: Jimmy Valiant.
Other Winners Included:
Tomato Growers:
A. Biggest Tomato
I. First Place: Charles Rencsok
Ii. Second Place: Marie Goodwin
B. Most Unusual Tomato
I. First Place: John Shumate
Ii. Second Place: Marie Goodwin
Iii. Third Place: Tracy Brockenbrough
C. Smallest Ripe Tomato
I. First Place: Marie Goodwin
Ii. Second Place: Sophia Vishneski
Iii. Third Place: Tracy Brockenbrough
D. Best Cherry/Grape Tomato
I. First Place: John Shumate
Ii. Second Place: Anthony Flaccavento
Iii. Third Place: Gracie Walker
E. Best Roma Tomato
I. First Place: Bonnie Sheppard
Ii. Second Place: Marie Goodwin
Iii. Third Place: Gracie Walker
F. Best Set Of 4 (All Same Variety)
I. First Place: Bonnie Shepphard
Ii. Second Place: Tracy Brockenbrough
Iii. Third Place: Marie Goodwin
G. Best Tasting
I. First Place: Bonnie Sheppard
Ii. Second Place: Marie Goodwin
Iii. Third Place: Butch Hilton
H. Best Tomato Grown By A Child 12 And Under-
I. First Place: Gracie Walker
I. Most Tomatoes Donated
I. First Place: Marie Goodwin-135
Ii. Second Place: Dena Lester-34
Iii. Third Place: Rebecca Sears 32
Tomato Food
A. Best Tomato Condiments: Salsa, Ketchups, Relishes, Etc.-
I. First Place: Riley Lane
Ii. Second Place: Rita Nester
Iii. Third Place: Sophia Vishneski
B. Best Tomato Entrees: Tomato Pizza, Pasta, Gazpacho, Etc.-
I. First Place: Juanita Thornton
Ii. Second Place: Tayler James Lane
Iii. Third Place: Lauren Tate
C. Best Tomato Dessert: Pie, Ice Cream, Cake, Etc.-
I. First Place: Rita Nester
Ii. Second Place: Rita Nester
Iii. Third Place: Taylor James Lane
D. Others: Munchies, Hors D’oeuvres, Salads, Etc.-
I. First Place: Lauren Tate
Art Contests:
A. Library And Eaa Children’s Art Contest (Ages 12 And Under)-
I. First Place: Nova James East
Ii. Second Place: Olivia Boone
Iii. Third Place: Taylor Poore
B. Art Inspired By Tomatoes (All Ages)-
I. First Place: Logan Boone
Ii. Second Place: Summer English
Iii. Third Place: Olivia Boone
C. Grand Prize Heritage Artist- Linda Bostic Smith
Tomato Olympics:
‘Mater Toss-
I. First Place: – Louis Semtner
Ii. Second Place: Ella Semtner
Iii. Third Place: Kellan Stewart
Tomato Worm Squirm-
I. First Place: Griffin Stewart
Ii. Second Place: Kellan Stewart
Iii. Third Place: Louis Semtner
Tomato Obstacle Course-
I. First Place: Marshall Tate
Ii. Second Place: Louis Semtner
Iii. Third Place: Kellan Stewart
Tomato Accuracy-
I. First Place: Jack Novak
E. Overall Olympian-Louis Semtner
The event serves as a major fundraiser for the Mountain Valley Charitable Foundation, which calls Elliston home.
