When
The Fourth Annual Tomato Quest Festival is returning to Kingman at Locomotive Park. This annual harvest festival, hosted by the Mohave County Master Gardeners, offers live entertainment, tomato contests, kid’s games, food trucks, music, free seeds and gardening information, a salsa contest and information booths for local non-profit organizations. The Salsa Contents and food trucks will be across the street from the park at the Mohave County Extension office.
Want to grow your own tomatoes? Learn about the tomato varieties that grow well in Kingman, Arizona.
Help us bring the community together by downloading the Tomato Quest flier and sharing it with people you know.
Event schedule
- 8:30 to 10:00 am: Booth set-up and Entry intake for the Best Cultivar, Best tasting, and People’s Choice tomato contests.
- 10:00 am: Salsa tasting begins, along with tomato contest judging , food trucks, kids games and information booths open.
- 11:00 am: Entertainment begins, including line dancers or tumblers. Take a selfie with our giant tomato or our mascot Super Matoe.
- Demonstration by Mohave County Sheriff K-9 (time to be announced pending availability)
- 1:00 pm: Salsa tasting and the People’s Choice tomato contest closes. Contest winners will be announced and trophies and prize packages will be awarded.
- 1:30 pm: Entertainment continues, featuring line dancers or tumblers.
Gardening information booths will be available throughout the event. You'll have access to Tomato Talks (free tomato seeds), Master Gardeners, Vermiculture, Composting, Water Conservation, Mohave College Little Seed Library (free seeds), Nut Tree Cultivation (free seedlings) and more.
Competition Information
Don't miss your chance to put your tomatoes against the best grown in the Mohave Valley. You can compete in several categories, with registration being free and open to the public. Call 928-753-3788 for more information and to register in advance.
Tastiest Tomato
ring 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.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 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
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. Review the rules closely 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.
People's Choice Award
Any tomato can be entered. It should be labeled by cultivar and brought to the Tomato Talk booth at the beginning of the festival.