CHAPEL HILL – It’s peak season for farmers and that means tomatoes are at their prime. This Saturday, the Carrboro Farmers’ Market is hosting its annual Tomato Day. Visitors can try more than 70 different kinds of tomatoes, from hybrid to heirloom.

“It’s always been one of the farmers’ favorite crops,” said Erin Jobe, market manager of the Carrboro Farmers’ Market. “They’ve really pushed the limits for trying new varieties and creating some of their own varieties.”

The farmers are growing heirloom tomatoes, which are created uniquely to family traditions. Jobe says the flavors heirloom tomatoes possess cannot be found in the grocery store.

“The market really has the biggest selection of tomato varieties that you can find in the area,” said Jobe.

Because of the heavy rainfall Orange County has been facing these last few weeks, Jobe says farmers may have a shortened tomato season.

“It may be a very short tomato season year, which is why it’s a great time to come get out now,” says Jobe. “They’re producing quite well, but a lot of the farmers are concerned with how long they’re going to last.”

The Farmers’ Market houses many other foods including eggplant, corn, okra, peppers, breads, cheeses, squash, zucchini, herbs, and even smoked fish and meats. Jobe says shoppers can get anything they need at the market.

“It’s been a great season so far and the tables are looking great at Market,” said Jobe. “It’s very abundant right now.”

Tomato Day will include tomato tastings, recipes, a raffle to win one of more than 30 prizes, and tomato dishes prepared by chefs from Acme and Pazzo.

With more than 35 different prizes from local businesses, winners could go home with camping rental equipment from Townsend Bertram and Company, dinner at Elaine’s, or a gift certificate to the Spotted Dog, among many other gifts.

Throughout the morning, Craig Thompson will perform his music and kids can enjoy face painting.

Tomato Day will be held at the Carrboro Town Commons, 301 West Main Street, and the event starts 8:30 AM. For more information on the Carrboro Farmers’ Market, click here.

Related Stories
‹
Regional Leaders Seek Solar Schools Partnership with Duke Energy
By Randall Rigsbee, Chatham News + Record Staff Local elected officials are calling on Duke Energy’s CEO to work with them to install solar power matched with energy storage at North Carolina schools. Those leaders say two divisions of Duke Energy are providing such solar+storage systems to schools in other states at no upfront cost and […]
East Chapel Hill High Celebrates New Solar Initiative
East Chapel Hill High held a Solar Kickoff event last Wednesday to celebrate their winning a grant to install solar panels at the school. The $300,000 grant was awarded to the school and seven other schools in the state by Duke Energy with the help of Raleigh-based nonprofit NC GreenPower. Outside of generating renewable energy […]
Politics on Facebook
Today is Friday, August 12, 2016.  Twinkie comes to Wal-Mart.  Politics on Facebook blows up.  What happens to a frozen tomato? Twinkie Comes to Wal-Mart You can now buy deep fried Twinkies at Wal-Mart.  It’s a part of an ongoing collaboration between Hostess (the company that owns the Twinkie brand) and Wal-Mart.  They are available in […]
Common Science Fifth Anniversary Column
This week marks the fifth anniversary of Common Science® and this is my 239th column! It’s been my great pleasure to write them and I have enjoyed your comments and emails over the years. Nevertheless, I’ve decided that I need to take a little hiatus from writing.   In the mean time, I will still be […]
Why Solar Roads are a Bad Idea
If you paid attention to the news last spring, you may remember that solar roads were experiencing their 15 minutes of fame. There were newspaper articles, TV reports, viral Facebook messages, and at least one Kickstarter campaign to fund this ambitious project. The concept was to start covering our roads with small, modular solar panels […]
Orange County Welcomes Solar Power
In early July, Strata Solar teamed with Orange County to begin construction on a 35-acre, six megawatt solar farm on White Cross Farm in Chapel Hill.
Carrboro Farmers' Market Hosting Tomato Day 2013
It’s peak season for farmers and that means tomatoes are at their prime.
›