NJ Heirloom Tomato Tasting

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

One of the amazing things about this time of year is the tomatoes. I dream about August in the dead of winter, imagining the flavor of heirloom varieties. I used to grow my own, but we’ve been having trouble with the squirrels and woodchucks decimating everything in the garden. Instead, I rely on the great local producers—thankfully, they’ve got me covered!

True, Hurricane Irene threw a wrench into the works—she did a number on crops. The good news: many local farms were able to bring in a good harvest prior to the deluge and winds. Part of that harvest is being showcased in Pittston, New Jersey tomorrow!

Head over to 21st Annual Great Tomato Tasting at the Rutgers NJAES Snyder Farm. From their email—

This year’s event includes the very popular tasting of both heirloom and hybrid tomatoes and wagon tours of the farm’s research plots.  The afternoon will also include tastings of honey, herbs, apples and peaches – all with the assistance and guidance of Rutgers NJAES Master Gardener volunteers.  The Melda C. Snyder Teaching Garden will showcase garden displays of deer tolerant ornamentals, plants that can attract native pollinators to your garden, the Rutgers holly and blueberry breeding programs, columnar varieties of fruit trees for the home landscape and daylilies.  Also, we welcome back chefs featuring tasty samples of tomato recipes.  Local residents will have professional advice offered by the Hunterdon County Board of Health Staff regarding stink bugs, mosquitoes and black flies; pesky insects near and dear to local residents.  For those who want small productive gardens, there will be square foot gardening demonstrations.

Things kick off three in the afternoon, closing at dusk. Cost is $7, although kids under the age of ten are free.