Haverhill’s Wally’s Vegetables came away a big winner Thursday following judging during the 41st Annual Massachusetts Tomato Contest, winning in three categories, while West Newbury’s Grant Family Farm also scored in the top five locally.
This year’s competition brought together 103 entries from 21 farms across the state, showcasing the variety and quality of locally grown produce in Massachusetts. The 41st Annual Massachusetts Tomato Contest was hosted by Boston Public Market and sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and New England Vegetable and Berry Growers Association.
“Our Annual Tomato Contest highlights the resilience, dedication and skill of our farmers, who work year-round to bring fresh, premium produce to our tables despite all the challenges they face,” said state Agriculture Commissioner Ashley Randle. “They are vital to our communities and local economies. Choosing local produce means enjoying better flavor while directly supporting the families who sustain our land.”
Wally’s Vegetables took third place in the Slicing Category for its Big Beef variety, fourth place in the Heirloom Category contest for its Striped German and fifth place in the Cherry Category for its Sungold variety. Grant Family Farm took fifth place in Slicing for its Rubee Dawn tomatoes.
An expert judging panel of chefs, food writers and state officials evaluated each tomato on five key criteria: exterior color, flavor, shape, firmness and slicing quality. After results were in and tabulated, Randle, serving as master of ceremonies announced the top prizes went to tomato growers from Upper Hand Farm, Verrill Farm, Sow and Savor Farm and Rota Spring Farm.
Massachusetts is home to 739 farms that cultivate 520 acres of tomatoes. Together, they yield approximately five million pounds of tomatoes annually, valued at an estimated $12 million. The vast majority of tomatoes grown in Massachusetts go directly for sale at farm stands, farmers markets and local grocery stores.