Murphy – With the arrival of summer’s heat, farmers, gardeners and food lovers hunger for this season’s star: the tomato. And the Cherokee Clay Food Alliance has organized the perfect event to awaken those taste buds.
On Saturday, the Alliance partners with the Murphy Farmers Market to host their first Tomato Festival. The market opens as usual at 9 a.m., with tomato-focused activities for adults and children. Along with some new produce vendors, restaurants and mixologists from Murphy and Hayesville will offer dishes and drinks bursting with tomatoey flavor.
Cooking demonstrations kick off inside the L&N Depot building shortly after 9:30 a.m. with Derek Mazza, executive chef at The Crown restaurant in Brasstown. Alongside, at least five local restaurants will participate in a Bloody Mary contest to be judged by local notables.
Outside, local artist Troy Underwood will provide live music, while shoppers peruse market offerings and chat with experts for tips on growing and preserving tomatoes at home. Kids will have their own activities, from face-painting to relay races.
The event was conceived as a way to re-energize the farmers’ market and bring together growers and consumers interested in supporting local foodways. Terra Ciotta, the Alliance’s vice president, said one of the group’s missions is to build healthier and more robust farmers’ markets to support the local food community.
“We want farmers to know that there are customers to be had,” she said.
According to Susan Ward of the Alliance, the organization is reaching out to new farmers to increase the proportion of produce booths at the market, and bring in local food enthusiasts.
“It’s about trying to make connections with different groups in the community, so that everybody benefits,” she said.
The Alliance expects the event to attract both locals and summer visitors interested in seeing what local producers can bring to the table. Hopefully, by using one of America’s favorite garden goodies, they will bring both the curious and the serious to see what’s on offer every Saturday from April through October.
As Ward said, “The more we can work together as a community, it’s a win-win.