This past weekend, the local farm in my area held their first annual Tomato Festival, and you know I had to be there. Land’s Sake has only been around since 1980, but the non-profit farm is a staple of the community in Weston, Massachusetts. You can go to the farm and pick flowers, herbs, and produce, all grown on site. Their farmstand also offers a variety of goods sourced from other local farms and vendors.
While Land’s Sake isn’t a stranger to holding local festivals, this summer marks the first Tomato Fest, and as a certified tomato lover, I planned to go as soon as I found out about it. I’m not ashamed to admit that I spent almost two hours enjoying everything Tomato Fest had to offer. It was also my first time visiting Land’s Sake, making the day all the more special.
The Tomato Festival had a variety of activities, including the chance to pick your own cherry tomatoes fresh from the Land’s Sake fields. I love apple picking, so I had no doubt that tomato picking would be just as fun, and it was. For just $6, I got to pick an entire quart of fresh cherry tomatoes, and the experience of being able to walk through the field and harvest my own food was one I’ll never forget.
After filling my quart-size container to the brim with ripe cherry tomatoes, I quickly headed into the farmstand to grab a bundle of fresh basil and some mozzarella pearls to make Caprese salad with my freshly picked bounty.
But picking fresh produce wasn’t the only highlight of Tomato Fest. I also got to try some amazing tomato forward foods, including a sample of the viral tomato lemonade. This beverage intrigued me, and getting to try it at the festival was a top priority for me. As I took my first few sips of the tomato lemonade, I wasn’t mad about the drink. Tomatoes have a bit of natural sweetness, and it was surprisingly refreshing when paired with the freshly pressed lemonade. But then the aftertaste hit, and it was the most bizarre thing ever. After finishing the sample, I couldn’t figure out whether I liked the viral beverage or not, and ended up purchasing a glass of plain lemonade instead.
The Tomato Festival also had brick oven pizza that was made onsite and featured tomato sauce made from Land’s Sake tomatoes. I got the Veg Lover’s pizza, which featured spinach, mushrooms, peppers, and onions. The first bite was an absolute dream, and I decided then and there that brick fired pizza was the best way to go. After finishing my slice (and wishing that I bought a whole pie), I headed back inside to the farmstand where freshly made Panzanella Salad was being offered.
Panzanella is a tomato and bread salad, and while that might sound weird on paper, it’s one of the best foods I’ve ever tried. The bread is toasted and tossed with tomatoes in an olive oil and red wine vinegar based dressing. Every bite of Panzanella is amazing, and it makes the perfect summer salad, whether you’re in Italy (where it originated) or just Weston, MA.
My time at Tomato Fest was filled with food and fun, and you’ll definitely see me there next year, and at all the festivals Land’s Sake has to offer.