The British Tomato Growers’ Association (TGA) is on a mission to find the UK’s best-tasting tomato.
Both commercial and amateur growers are being invited to enter the Tastiest Tomato Competition, which will be held at the Totally Tomato Show on September 8-9.
TGA chief executive Gerry Hayman said: “Whenever we meet the public at food shows and other events, we’re often told ‘tomatoes don’t taste like they used to’ or ‘the ones I grow taste much better than the ones you can buy’. So we’re going to put it to the test with this competition to find the tastiest tomato.”
The tomatoes will be judged on their taste, texture and intensity of flavour, with 10 points for each, making a maximum of 30 points.
The judging panel will include food writer Carol Godsmark, author of Starting and Running a Successful Gastropub or Brasserie and Running a Restaurant for Dummies.
The winning entry will be awarded the Len Summerton Cup - named after the late Len Summerton, a keen gardener and tomato fan from Southampton - and a season ticket for West Dean Gardens.
Two runners up will each be awarded engraved plaques, plus a season ticket.
The award will be presented by Summerton’s daughter Kate Armes.
She said: “My dad was born in Southampton in 1925, and died in 2006 at the age of 80. He had a hardware shop and became an ironmonger, working incredibly hard six days a week. His first love was his family and his second was his garden. I suppose his passion for tomatoes came because they were so satisfying to grow and he adored eating them! My mother used to get quite fed up with huge bowls of tomatoes coming in every day, filling up the kitchen and he would just laugh and pick some more.
“He adored his four grandchildren and would often keep a strangely shaped tomato or two to share with them when they visited, or pick a selection of his baby tomatoes and carefully cut them up for their supper. Dad was a man of great humour - he was always laughing ¬- and I know the idea of a tomato competition named after him would amuse and thrill him.”
Participants in the Tastiest Tomato Competition can submit one entry of a minimum 250 grams of any single variety - the equivalent of four classic tomatoes or 12 cherry tomatoes - and will have until midday on September 9 to submit their entry at the show. Entry forms and details are available on the TGA website www.britishtomatoes.co.uk, or the West Dean Gardens site www.westdean.org.uk, or by post by telephoning the TGA on 01243 554859.
Entry is by paid admission to the show and entries can only be accepted in person from visitors to the Totally Tomato Show.
The Totally Tomato Show will take place at West Dean Gardens on September 8-9.
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