TomatoFare: 2008

TRINIDAD, WA. This year’s Third annual TomatoFare2008 will celebrate heirloom tomatoes with gardeners, cooks, and the community on Sunday, August 31, 2008, at White Heron Cellars Winery in Quincy WA, from 4-9pm. On hand will be 50-100 local gardeners who grow many tasty varieties of Heirloom Tomatoes in a rainbow of colors and flavors. Growers of organic, heirloom tomatoes will present tastings with the help of volunteers. They will also supply participating chefs with tomatoes to prepare tasty samples of their gourmet recipies. TomatoFare2007 made Grant County the heirloom tomato capital of Washington State and the Pacific Northwest.

Activities will include: tastings of over 100 different varieties of organic, locally grown heirloom tomatoes, sample recipes by chefs from Grant County, including World famous Moses Lake Tsunami Sushi Restaurant Kiyoji Miyamoto; chef/owner Eduardo from Tequila’s Mexican Restaurant in Ephrata, the “Salsa Champion” Bernie, Delia Flores & son from Gourmet Desert Salsa) Moses Lake; chef/owner Ginger Luke of the Rickshaw (also founder/operator of Ginger’s Pet Rescue of WA; Robert Porter, the General’s BBQ from Kent, WA, Farmers Market; live music by the Quichua Mashis from Ecuador, Bolivia & Peru; the Vaughn Jensen Group from Tri-Cities; and Phyllis and Cameron Fries wine tastings of White Heron’s finest selection of Roussane, Syrah, Pinot Noir and a Meritage-type red.

Raw tomatoes, in all their edgy, inconsistent beauty and superb unique flavors will also be on hand to eat au natural. Heirloom Tomatoes selling for $6.00 a lb. on the coast will be sold for $2.00 a lb. at TomatoFare2008 by the growers.

White Heron Cellars, www.whiteheronwine.com is owned and operated by Phyllis and Cameron Fries and was the first winery in the region. The winery bottles Roussane, Syrah, Pinot Noir and a Meritage-type red wine. White Heron Cellars is located in Trinidad, above Crescent Bar, at 10035 Stuhlmiller, Quincy, WA. See their website, for excellent directions and maps. For more info about White Heron Cellars phone (509) 797-9463 or Email at info@whiteheronwine.com.

Martin & Jennifer Ringhofer began their TomatoFare® in their Soap Lake home backyard in 2006, with many friends and families as a ‘pot-luck’ celebration of the season’s harvest. Their goal is to select the seed of “at risk” tomato varieties that are, above all else, tasty and to provide our growers, farmers, chefs, contributing businesses, and public an event that supports and celebrates the process.

Once known as love apples, tomatoes have a long and varied history. They originated in South America and spread to the rest of the world through trade routes. Today, most tomatoes are hybridized versions of the original and almost always red. The heirloom comes in every color of the rainbow.

Ringhofer, who was brought up with the family value "that you get more out of giving, than taking," gave away over 1.000 tomato plants a second year to gardeners in and around Soap Lake. Ephrata, Moses Lake, and Grant & Douglas counties. Fifty gardeners signed up again to grow the plants in their garden with one stipulation, for one week, all the tomatoes the plants produce will go to stock the annual TomatoFare2008.

The Ringhofers feel it is especially important, particularly in this time of hardship for many, that we do all we can to support people’s ability to provide for themselves healthy foods through healthy gardening and teach sustainable practices to children.”

This year, don’t miss the opportunity to satiate your desire for old-fashioned, heirloom tomato flavors at the best food & wine events in Grant & Douglas Counties. Enjoy the foods chefs will prepare featuring heirloom tomatoes in an unpretentious, harvest-celebration atmosphere. Ringhofer says, “Our gathering will showcase a range of unforgettable epicurean creations from classical to innovative food adventures. The chefs and restaurants selected to appear at this year’s TomatoFare lead the way to experiencing the possibility, range and pleasures of exceptional cuisine prepared with heirloom tomatoes.”

“TomatoFare2008® entertains more than one’s senses,” said Ringhofer. It celebrates the spirit of the season’s harvest and encourages home gardeners to carry on the honored tradition of seed-saving and growing their family’s own organic heirloom tomatoes. It truly is a unique community festival for food & wine lovers, chefs, family gardeners and farmers. It’s a celebration of life!” Get your ticket now… so you don’t miss the opportunity to take part in “The Pacific Northwest’s Premier Tomato Harvest Festival” before tickets sell out.

General admission tickets at $20 are available in advance; $25 on the day of the event are limited to 300 guests to ensure a quality experience for all. Early ticket purchase is suggested since the event is expected to sell out. Children under the age of 12 with attending parent are admitted free. Tickets may be purchased through White Heron Cellars phone (509) 797-9463.

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Founded and operated by Martin & Jennifer Ringhofer in 2006, the TomatoFare® has revitalized the appreciation and desire for true heirloom tomatoes over the past three years. The Ringhofer’s belief in sustainable farming and organic seed saving has inspired them to develop and grow heirloom tomato varieties for more than six years. For the 2008 season, 50 participating small growers are currently growing more than 100 varieties of certified organic heirloom tomatoes from seeds originally sourced from family farms around the world. For more information visit http://tomatofare.net/ or write martinringhofer@aol.com

Monday, September 8, 2008

Photos from TomatoFare 2008

Video Highlights from TomatoFare2008!

Friday, August 29, 2008

TomatoFare 2008 Schedule!

Join other Heirloom Tomato enthusiasts!

Third annual TomatoFare 2008
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Trinidad WA from 4-9pm
White Heron Cellars Winery

Schedule of Activities

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Photos from the Press Release

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

THE THIRD ANNUAL PREMIER TOMATOFARE 2008 IS SCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2008, AT WHITE HERON CELLARS WINERY IN QUINCY WA, FROM 4-9PM

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