The eighth annual Tomato and Salsa Fest brought all the sweet and spice it promised on Sept. 12. About 300 community members came to taste and browse the tomato-based foods on display at Timeless Gardens in Lebanon.
Owner Trudie Bason coordinated the vendors and activities. Booths ranged from garden-based research from OSU Extension Service, fresh produce for sale, tomato tasting, and 18 homemade salsas competing for bragging rights as the best.
Patrick and Rebecca Bordwell, daughter and son-in-law to Bason, oversaw the salsa tasting tables. They served guests their selected salsas on a plate paired with tortilla chips. Numbered one through 18, salsas included recipes made with fruit, shrimp, corn, and some more traditional blends using cilantro and jalapeno.
“Thirteen and 14 are pretty spicy,” Patrick said. “I hear people sniffling when they walk by.”
Event-goers cast their vote for their favorite in three categories: best overall, most spicy that you can still eat, and most unusual. Jason Vincent filled his plate before choosing his bests.
“Four is one of my favorites, but I keep going back to number one,” Vincent said. “Even though it’s subtle, it’s very interesting.”
Local couple Steve and Grace Christensen came hungry. Upon arrival they also got their plate of salsas and sat in the shade to pick their favorites.
“So far so good,” Grace said.
“So far too hot,” her husband joked, as he reached for a water to wash away the heat of his bite.
Attendees were able to bring their biggest tomatoes to enter in the biggest tomato contest. The winner, brought by Shelby Juhl, weighed in at a hefty 1.5 pounds.
Barbara Rowe of Rowe’s Garden had a booth with a variety of tomatoes and peppers grown in her gardens for purchase. Customers had their choice of her specialty peppers such as the padron, also known as Spanish roulette peppers for their unpredictable spiciness.
“One and 10 are hot, the rest are not,” Rowe said.
The tomato tasting booth with Master Gardener Lisa Almarode had over a dozen flavors, colors and shapes of her homegrown tomatoes. With a dry-erase board displayed at the booth, she recorded the votes from tasters of their preferred fruit. The plump Italian heirloom and bite-sized sun gold were tied for first place.
“For Trudie I’m sort of donating this because it’s fun to do and a good cause,” Almarode said.
The fest featured a passport challenge in which guests would visit each booth and have them sign off on their “passport.” Those who completed the passport and made a purchase at Timeless Gardens nursery would be entered into the drawing for the grand prize. Valued at more than $300, the gift basket contained treats and items that could make the whole family happy.
“All things were donated and at least half the things are from Lebanon,” Bason said.
The event raised $500 for Hannah’s House, a non-profit organization for women and teens with life controlling problems.
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Winners:
Best Overall: Torrey Bason (tomato, serrano peppers, onion, lime, cilantro)
Most Unusual: Lisa Ochoas (unknown)
Most Spicy: Jolene Mullenix (unknown)
Grand prize drawing: Jan Boucot
Biggest tomato: Shelby Juhl
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