Covert Organic Farm Holds Festival of the Tomato

Covert Organic Farm’s Annual Festival of the Tomato in Oliver, BC. All images: Claire Sear

Move over peaches, show me your tomatoes! Covert Organic Farm’s Annual Festival of the Tomato in Oliver, British Columbia, gave the humble tomato its moment in the sun. Heirlooms are all the rage, tomato water is again accompanying gourmet dishes, and Covert Farm’s Annual Festival honours the versatile fruit.

A fun-filled family event, the festival included tomato tug of war, tomato slam dunk, tomato mini golf, corn maze, wine/beer tastings, food bbq, Tomato Iron Chef Competition and a wonderful line-up of live music. For home-cooks, 30 pounds of tomatoes were available for a bargain thirty dollars and sixty cents per pound for families willing to pick their own. Executive Chef Chris Remington of Penticton’s Hooded Merganser Restaurant pictured above with Shelly Covert was crowned Tomato Iron Chef and Burrowing Owl’s Executive Chef Chris Van Hooydonk was runner-up. Find the crowning recipe here.

– Claire Sear