Statham Farmers Market Calling for Entries for Blue Ribbon Saturday Spotlighting Tomatoes

Hearkening back to the days of county fairs, when locals would enter their largest or best produce in hopes of winning blue ribbons, the hopes to build community around a similar event.

With events dubbed “Blue Ribbon Saturdays,” market organizers are asking residents to show off what they’ve grown or what they can make.

This Saturday, Aug. 13, the market will spotlight tomatoes. Anyone can participate by bringing along a potential prize-winning fruit, whipping up a tasty batch of salsa or getting creative with a tomato-based dish.

“Because we are promoting local produce, we’re encouraging people to use it and sometimes use it in a creative way,” said Cyndi Ball, chair of the farmers market.

Entries will be judged on presentation, taste and texture, and first-place winners will be announced in three categories — fresh tomatoes off the vine, salsa and tomato dishes.

“Anybody can enter, and we would love to have a lot of people come down and enter for that,” Ball said. “We’d love to see this really take off.”

Entries should be dropped off at the welcome tent before 9:45 a.m., and judging will begin on the market stage at 10.

On Saturday, Aug. 27, the market with spotlight cakes, muffins and cookies, and residents are encouraged to enter their best recipes for judging.

Organizers hope to see the Blue Ribbon Saturdays start to draw entries from around Barrow County and beyond.

For more information on the Statham Farmers Market, which is held from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturdays in downtown Statham, visit the market’s Facebook page, call 770-289-2301 or e-mail Ball at cyndi@thelazybfarm.com.

We want to see what you're growing and making. Post photos of your tomatoes, salsa and tomato-based dishes here on Barrow Patch or e-mail photos to deanna.allen@patch.com.