At Saturday’s seventh annual Tomadah Paradah, Mindy Lohrey and her three children patrol through the tomato patch on the Wilmington College Academic Farm. Enjoying themselves with mom are, from left, Evan, 2, Ava, 5, and baby Ellie, 7 months. One attendee traveled from Sandusky for the event where people can sample many varieties of tomatoes and peppers for free — and get a slice of watermelon, too. WC agriculture staff and students were on hand to discuss details on this year’s crops, in addition to showing visitors what’s growing in the greenhouse and the college’s innovative irrigation and staking systems.
As it turned out, the heftiest tomato in the Tomadah Paradah was grown on the Wilmington College Academic Farm where the event is held. Elise Snarr, a WC student worker at the farm, holds the 2.6-pounds fruit. Winning cash prizes in the contest for heaviest tomato were, first place, Clayton Cole, 2.18 pounds; second place, Adalyn Achtermann, 2.13 pounds; and third place, Tom Dalton, 2.1 pounds.
People can sample chopped-up samples of a large variety of tomatoes at Tomadah Paradah. Bags of crackers are available to accompany the tomato consumption.
Wilmington College Agriculture Professor Monte Anderson gives a green thumbs-up Saturday to tomato gardeners and growers for their fruitful work.
