Naturally nurtured tomato takes contest's top prize
Kelp, bat guano and mushroom compost provided an aromatic but effective competitive advantage to this year's winning tomato in the largest tomato contest held Aug. 15 at the Dundee Township Visitor's Center. Elgin resident Adam Tobler, 25, took first prize with his 1-pound 83/8-ounce tomato he said was grown with only natural fertilizers.
There were 22 entries of all shapes, sizes, colors and ripeness ranging from a bright yellow jelly bean-sized grape tomato to giant love apples that resembled misshapen softballs. This summer's mild temperatures yielded smaller entries, but no less enthusiastic participants, said event organizer and visitor's center board member Bill Zelsdorf of Carpentersville.
Tobler said last year's entry didn't even place at 21/4 pounds, so he wasn't hopeful when he picked his 2009 entry off one of 12 plants in his garden. But he took home $500 in gift certificates and prizes from area businesses, including a gift bag from One Cut Above the Rest, a wisteria tree and rose bushes from Dundee Landscape Nursery, Old Country Buffet meal passes, Classic Cinemas movie passes, and gift certificates from Diamond Jim's tavern, Manor restaurant, Piece-A-Cake bakery, and Liberty Lanes bowling ally.
Mary Albright, 43, of Hoffman Estates came in second with a tomato of the same weight, but a later entry time (entry time was the tie breaker). She won $300 worth of prizes, including a Dundee history book by Phil Aleo; merchandise from Haeger Potteries and Dundee Landscape Nursery; and gift certificates from Liberty Lanes, Red Lobster, Classic Cinemas, Diamond Jim's, and Piece-A-Cake Bakery.
Sydney Thomas, 8, of Colorado took third place with a 1-pound 65/8-ounce tomato, while her grandpa, Norm Thomas, 82, of East Dundee went home with fourth place. His tomato weighed 1 pound 41/8 ounces. They won $200 and $150 in prizes respectively from many of the same prize donors, plus gift certificates from Jewel/Osco, Olive Garden, Dairy Queen, Barb's Studio 104 and Denny's Restaurant.
"Sydney will be so happy," Thomas said. "She really worked hard on them." Thomas said there were no secrets to their success other than diligent weeding. "I don't even fertilize them," he added.
"It was another great turnout," Zelsdorf said. "And I'm grateful once again to all the businesses that donated all the prizes - despite these hard times, we had over $1,100 in prizes this year."
The Visitor's Center, 319 N. River St., East Dundee, will host its Great Pumpkin contest on Saturday, Oct. 31, with prizes for heaviest pumpkin and best decorated or carved pumpkin. It's also the last day for the 2009 Farmers Market season.