TOMATO growers of the backyard variety will gather in Gunnedah next month to battle it out for the best tomatoes at the National Tomato Day Contest.
This annual event is an institution for backyard growers, who compete for the glory of such titles as biggest, reddest, tastiest and oddest-shaped tomato.
To be held at the Gunnedah Services and Bowling Club on Sunday, January 13, the event has been held annually for the past 28 years, since two locals argued over who had grown the biggest tomatoes in their backyards.
Organiser John Campbell, who describes the day as “sport for vegetable growers”, said locals are now growing tomatoes purely for the sake of the competition.
“It’s not quite as competitive as it used to be but there are people just growing them especially for the day,” Mr Campbell said.
In past years, though, the competition was so fierce it even led to cheating.
“Some years ago, the judges discovered a tomato entered in the Biggest Tomato category with lead sinkers concealed inside it,” he said.
Despite the rivalry, the contest is still a very friendly affair, with competitors comparing notes on the best ways to grow the popular fruit.
The newest category, tastiest tomato, is expected to intensify the competition. Other categories in the competition include: The biggest tomato; the widest tomato; the oddest shape tomato; the heaviest single truss of tomatoes; the best tomato; and a special novelty exhibit category for children under 12 years.
The record for biggest tomato stands at around 1.82kg.
There’s also prizes for all those delicious condiments made from the tomato: Best tomato jam; relish; pickles and sauce!
Other home-grown produce competing for prizes will be the cucumber and the humble onion.
More contests on the day include whipcracking and home brewed beer and ginger beer; and displays of locally grown olive products.
Entertainment on the day includes a talent quest, with categories for under 10s, 10 to 16 year olds and open; as well as live music. First prize in the open talent quest is $250.
All produce is auctioned off at the end of the day, with total proceeds going towards community organisation the Keepit Matthews Recreation Association.