To-Mah-Woes and Other Nicer News

Tomato plant at Urban Oaks with a touch of late blight. Still standing ... so far.

Latest victim on the late blight front is the Tomato To-Mah-To Heirloom Tasting Feast, which had been scheduled for August 23. Slow Food Connecticut, which has sponsored the event for its eight years said aside from soaked ground at Upper Forty Farm in Cromwell where it’s usually held, it’s not clear that either host farm – Upper Forty or Urban Oaks in New Britain is actually going to have any tomatoes.

Part of a now empty row at Urban Oaks where tomato plants had been. They were yanked after developing late blight.

This week, Mike Kandefer at Urban Oaks showed me some gaping holes on his farm where his much-heralded organic tomatoes used to be. “We have late blight big time,” he said. “I’ve pulled up four rows of tomatoes already.

“Some spots have it, some spots don’t. The place I got it of course is closest to somebody who has a garden on the other side of the fence.”

He’s also got a little on his plants in the green house – so even that’s no guaranteed hedge against it. He’s still smiling – but with tomatoes as his biggest crop, he’s definitely concerned.

I’m being optimistic,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll get something out of them.”

Kathryn Caruso at Upper Forty said so far no late blight, but she is fighting a host of other maladies related to loads of rain and little sun. The tomatoes are running very late, she said. “I don’t expect to have a big crop this year at all. Mother Nature’s the boss this year.

“I’m looking forward to next year,” Caruso said.

Slow Food Connecticut said it’s establishing a Tomato Fund to be split between Urban Oaks and Upper Forty. Donations are tax deductible and should go to: Susan Chandler, 1870 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford, CT  06117.  Note “Tomato Fund” on the memo line.

Still Happening Despite the Weather

The Connecticut Wine Festival at the Goshen Fairgrounds this weekend. More than a dozen Connecticut vineyards are participating. Did you even know there were more than a dozen Connecticut vineyards?

Taste of Hartford is hanging in for an extra week. You can continue to pay $20.09  for a three-course meal at 32 area restaurants through August 9.

The Celebration of Connecticut Farms at Graywall Farms in Lebanon on September 13. It’s an absolute who’s who of farms, chefs and restaurants in the state. More on that in the coming weeks.