Tomatoes ripe and ready at farmers market

The Historic Lewes Farmers Market held its annual Tomato Festival Aug. 9 at the Lewes Historical Society Complex on Shipcarpenter Street. Shown is a bin of saucing tomatoes. BY NICK ROTH

Nick Roth

August 12, 2014

Thousands of people made their way through the Historic Lewes Farmers Market Aug. 9 in search of tomatoes, peaches and other savory selections. BY NICK ROTH

Jim Gaskill entered his green tomato scrapple into the Tomato Festival recipe contest. BY NICK ROTH

Betty Burleigh's candied cherry tomatoes offered a unique take on a tomato-inspired recipe. BY NICK ROTH

Harry Keyser's tomato jam cookies were a hit with the judges. His recipe earned first place in the dessert competition and second in the overall contest. BY NICK ROTH

Becky Hamill's yellow gazpacho was the big winner, taking first place overall in the recipe constest. Hamill's tomato gruyere soufflé with sausage also placed, earning second in the entree category. BY NICK ROTH

Cape Gazette food columnist Denise Clemons announces the winners of the recipe contest. BY NICK ROTH

Tables were set up around the market with samples of various tomatoes available that day. BY NICK ROTH

Frosty McDaniel rounds up market-goers to guess the number of tomatoes in the jar. The winning total was 332. BY NICK ROTH

A bouquet of flowers sits next to a display of tomatoes at the market. BY NICK ROTH

Backyard Jams and Jellies of Milton created a number of tomato jams and jellies for the Tomato Festival. BY NICK ROTH

Tomatoes were the star of the show Aug. 9 at the Historic Lewes Farmers Market.

Thousands of people attended the market for the 8th annual Tomato Festival. The event featured sample plates, a recipe competition and an opportunity to guess the number of tomatoes in a jar. Entertaining children was Maureen Miller from the Lewes Public Library, who read a tomato-themed book.

Taking top honors in the recipe contest was Becky Hamill, whose yellow gazpacho wowed the judges. Taking second was a tomato jam cookie made by Harry Keyser and third place went to Richard Scalenghe for his triple tomato salad. The competition featured 11 entries, which were split into three categories: appetizer or soup, dessert or drink and entree.

The Historic Lewes Farmers Market is held every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon through Sept. 27 at the Lewes Historical Society complex on Shipcarpenter Street. From Oct. 4 through Nov. 22, the market will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at Shields Elementary School. For more information, go to www.historiclewesfarmersmarket.org.