When
The Fourth Annual Tomato Quest Festival is returning to Kingman at Locomotive Park. Don't miss your chance to put your tomatoes against the best grown in the Mohave Valley. Growers can compete in several categories, with entry and events being free to register and open to the public. Participants can register before the event, which will speed up their entry time the day of the festival. Call 928-753-3788 for more information.
Best Tomato
Bring in a full, healthy branch from your tomato plant—complete with leaves and fruit—for this unique contest! The branch should be as fresh and vigorous as possible, with healthy leaves, stem, and tomatoes. Some wilting after cutting is expected and will not be judged negatively.
Judges will evaluate overall plant health, fruit condition and your knowledge of how you grew your tomatoes. The tomatoes should be ripe or nearly ripe. Issues like cracking, cat-facing, or blossom-end rot will count against you. Before judging, the tomatoes will be weighed and counted.
You must know the cultivar of your tomato and whether it’s an open-pollinated or hybrid variety. Be prepared to discuss your growing methods, including:
- Watering routines
- Soil amendments and fertilizers
- Pest and disease control measures
- Use of shade cloth, hoop houses, or other tools
- When and how you started the plant (seed or transplant)
- Any additional factors that contributed to your tomato-growing success
Tastiest Tomato
Select three tomatoes from the same plant to enter in our taste test competition. Judges will evaluate each entry based on:
- Flavor – boldness, balance of sweetness and acidity
- Texture – mouthfeel and juiciness
- Appearance – overall shape, color, and blemish-free skin
- Freshness – entries should be recently picked and in top condition
You must know the cultivar and class of your tomato and whether it is an open-pollinated or hybrid variety. Be ready to share your growing experience, including:
- Watering, fertilization, and pest/disease management
- Whether the plant was started from seed or transplant
- What you grew the variety for (e.g., slicing, salads, sauces, canning)
- Any special care or techniques used to bring out its best flavor
People's Choice Award
Any tomato can be entered. It should be labeled by cultivar and brought to the Tomato Talk booth the day of the festival.
Salsa Contest
Show off your salsa making skills! Join us for a "people's choice" salsa contest and see how your recipe stacks up. No fee to enter and trophy is awarded to the winner. View all contest rules and send questions to Bree Daughtry at daugherty@arizona.edu or call the Extension Main Office at 928-753-3788.
- Contestants must have a valid AZ Food Handler's card. If you don't have a card, you'll get information on how to get one when you register for the contest.
- Salsa must be prepared on-site in Cooperative Extension's commercial kitchen on October 23 or October 24. No salsas made at home will be allowed.
- Contestants must prepare 2 quarts of salsa for the People's Choice tasting and voting held on October 25
- Contestants are required to attend orientation on Tuesday, October 21 at 5:30 pm at the Mohave Extension's Kitchen.