Marvelous ‘maters

Posted on by Jen Nathan Orris

Tomatoes are one of summer’s many delights. One bite of these juicy fruits with their tangy skins and sweet insides are enough to make a veggie-lover swoon. Celebrate this incredible fruit at festivals around the region this month

The Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project will put tomatoes front and center at its annual tomato festival, planned for Saturday, Aug. 10 at the Asheville City Market. Activities include a chance to get to know WNC’s tomato growers and vote for the best local variety.

Farmers will also share some of their favorite recipes and the public is invited to submit their own at http://avl.mx/xc. Put your recipe to the test, whether you hold the secret to your grandma’s famous sauce or have a modern tomato creation all your own.

William Dissen, executive chef and owner of The Market Place, will cook up tomato concoctions on the spot. He may serve heirloom tomatoes with hand-pulled mozzarella. Or the menu could include a tomato and mellon salad with pork belly. Curious tomato-lovers will have to see for themselves.

The town of Canton will also honor the lovable tomato its very own Materfest. The area’s flagship event features a parade, antique cars, music, and plenty of tomatoes for everyone.  Are you or your gal the most luscious tomato-eater in the land? Prove it at the Mrs. Materfest pageant. The queen of the ‘maters will be crowned on Friday at 6:30 p.m.

Then see how many tomatoes fit in your belly at a tomato eating contest at Materfest on Saturday at 6 p.m. The festival is held throughout downtown Canton. Don’t forget a napkin and your appetite. Canton Materfest: Friday, Aug. 2 and Saturday, Aug. 3 www.focusofcanton.com; ASAP Tomato Festival: Saturday, Aug. 10 http://avl.mx/xd Both are free.

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.