Tomato Taste Results: Sun Gold on Top

We had more than 150 people come to yesterday's Washington Gardener Magazine 13th Annual Tomato Taste at the FreshFarm Silver Spring Market. Here are the results of the ballots submitted.

1. Sun Gold from The Farm at Our House 
2. Cherry Bomb from The Farm at Our House 
3. Chocolate Cherry from Mock's Greenhouse
4. Cherokee Purple from Mock's Greenhouse
5. Heirloom Mix from Audia's Farm North
6. Carolina Sun from Barajas Produce
7. Red Morning from Barajas Produce
8. Sweet Grape from Spiral Path Farm

This year the #1 tomato had double the votes that the #2 tomato did -- so it was a true land-slide. The rest of the pack were separated by just a few votes. This shows you that there were no real "losers" in this batch and that every tomato had its share of hard-core fans. 

Do take a minute to click on the photo link here to view the Facebook album of photos from the event. I think you will agree that the market tomatoes are absolutely gorgeous and very photogenic -- and so are the market patrons!

In addition to the tasting, many people stopped by to create colorful tomato art and to pick up the free tomato seeds, growing tips, and recipes that we gave out.

We gave out a gift bag full of gardening goodies, tomatoes, and market money to one of the tomato taste voters! 

Most of the taste attendees were local, though we also had many who came quite a distance. About two-thirds live in Silver Spring. Another third live close by in Washington, DC or the neighboring towns of Takoma Park, Chevy Chase, Bethesda, etc. A few are from far outside of the area, we even had votes from New York, South Carolina, California, and Georgia!

Thank you to all who came and participated. Thanks to the farmers for growing great tomatoes and to FreshFarm Markets staff for hosting us. Special thanks also to our volunteers MD Smith and Alexandra Jentz for helping with all the tomato sample cutting, vote tallying, and helping greet all the tasters in the short, but jam-packed two-hour event!