2020 Virtual Tomato Tasting

Let's see those Photos and videos!!
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PlainJane
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2020 Virtual Tomato Tasting

#1

Post: # 23832Unread post PlainJane
Sun Jun 28, 2020 3:00 pm

Well, in some ways it was better than our usual sit-down afternoon event, but I missed seeing everyone’s immediate reactions and banter.
How:
I created a Facebook event for notes, pictures and laughs.
For local folks I made up boxes with the labeled tomatoes in fabric bags, kind of like party favors. I had various sizes of bags for bigger beefsteaks vs. saladettes vs. cherries.
For remote people I packed 2 smaller boxes within a larger box, about 12 lbs or so total shipping weight. To stay within budget I only shipped to 4 people - all on the East Coast.
I spread all the shipping and local deliveries out over 4 weeks starting end of May and coinciding with peak expected harvest. My goal was to get as many of the 25 varieties to as many people as possible; everybody had at least a dozen or more to try.

Tasting sheets went inside the boxes:
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Staged for first of the local deliveries:
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Away folks getting their goodies:
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Su was very excited about a KBX “as big as her head”.
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Some of the photos people posted. There were a lot of BLTs. It got a little competitive, lol:
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My favorite was Susan’s use of Copper River over salmon, cooked in parchment.
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And here were notes from our friend Nichole:

Atomic Fusion – 5 – mild, juicy, thick skin with a back anote of something herbal, pair well with savory dish
Atomic Sunset – 8 – clean sharp flavor, very bright
Carbon – 6 – sweet, not much to it
Clear Lake Heirloom – 3 – “meh”
Cooper River – 5 – loved the inside red/green coloring, mild flavor
Green Bee – 5 – thick skin, didn’t like as much as last year
Green Gables – 6 – nice green/yellow coloring, fresh and clean tasting
Indian Stripe PL – 6 – mild, juicy, liked it without salt better
KBX – 7 – hearty, full of flavor
Lucky Cross – 3 – “meh”
Pink Saphire – 3 – mild, juicy, not much flavor
Ron’s Carbon Copy – 9 – really liked the snacking size, deep color and sweet flavor
Wild Thyme Purple – 10 – loved the dark color and flavor. Floral notes in the back of your throat.

Wild Thyme Purple, Thorburn’s Terra-cotta, KBX, Daniel Burson, Ron’s Carbon Copy and Indian Stripe all received high marks.

Green Gables, Aker’s West Virginia, Copper River, Clear Lake Heirloom, Claude Brown’s Yellow Giant and Atomic Sunset were close runners up.

Most people either love Green Bee or ..... not. (Personally I love it.)

Since I had the growers privilege of tasting everything fresh off the vine my winner was Daniel Burson. Just out of top place - Wild Thyme Purple, Carbon and KBX.
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“Never try to outstubborn a cat.”
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ddsack
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Re: 2020 Virtual Tomato Tasting

#2

Post: # 23849Unread post ddsack
Sun Jun 28, 2020 4:14 pm

OMG, the food looks fantastic! Beautiful presentations, I want to taste every one! What a fun way to run your event, but the planning and coordination must have been challenging! Thanks for sharing the pictures and results. 8-)

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PlainJane
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Re: 2020 Virtual Tomato Tasting

#3

Post: # 23851Unread post PlainJane
Sun Jun 28, 2020 4:25 pm

Thank you [mention]ddsack[/mention], it was work, but fun work.
“Never try to outstubborn a cat.”
- Robert A. Heinlein

Barb_FL
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Re: 2020 Virtual Tomato Tasting

#4

Post: # 23858Unread post Barb_FL
Sun Jun 28, 2020 4:55 pm

Wow - I'm so impressed. You really outdid yourself. Was tester Nichole a local or were they mailed to her?

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PlainJane
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Re: 2020 Virtual Tomato Tasting

#5

Post: # 23860Unread post PlainJane
Sun Jun 28, 2020 5:15 pm

[mention]Barb_FL[/mention], thank you. Nichole is a local and has been a fixture at every tomato tasting and foodie dinner we’ve had.
“Never try to outstubborn a cat.”
- Robert A. Heinlein

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wildcat62
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Re: 2020 Virtual Tomato Tasting

#6

Post: # 23870Unread post wildcat62
Sun Jun 28, 2020 6:53 pm

Love it. Can hardly wait on ours to ripen. Great pic...

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PlainJane
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Re: 2020 Virtual Tomato Tasting

#7

Post: # 23874Unread post PlainJane
Sun Jun 28, 2020 7:16 pm

Thank you [mention]wildcat62[/mention]
“Never try to outstubborn a cat.”
- Robert A. Heinlein

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KathyDC
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Re: 2020 Virtual Tomato Tasting

#8

Post: # 24044Unread post KathyDC
Tue Jun 30, 2020 12:06 pm

That looks super fun. Well done!

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MissS
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Re: 2020 Virtual Tomato Tasting

#9

Post: # 24051Unread post MissS
Tue Jun 30, 2020 1:37 pm

Well PlainJane there seems to be nothing plain about you at all. You are remarkable. You managed to make this tomato tasting a huge hit in spite of the corona virus. Everyone seemed to have fun and make the virtual event something special thanks to your hard work and dedication.

To to top it off Daniel Burson won. I happen to be very fond of this tomato myself. It is a very good one indeed.

Well done!
~ Patti ~

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bower
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Re: 2020 Virtual Tomato Tasting

#10

Post: # 24092Unread post bower
Tue Jun 30, 2020 9:02 pm

This is amazing... just love all the presentations which look delicious!! In a way, it's better than a 'just tomatoes' tasting, with everyone showing off the ways they enjoyed them. :D
AgCan Zone 5a/USDA zone 4
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