Salmonella headlines squash Tomato Festival

Tag : tomato

Salmonella headlines squash Tomato Festival
Sat, Sep 6, 2008 to del.icio.us BY PETER DAINING
pdaining@grandhaventribune.com


Those eagerly anticipating the first-ever Grand Haven TomatoFestival will have to wait for next year's harvest.


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The event, scheduled for this weekend, was canceled because of thenegative spotlight pointed at tomatoes by warnings of salmonellaoutbreaks earlier this year — according Steve Loftis, a localrestaurateur and member of the Grand Haven Main Street DowntownDevelopment Authority.
"We just needed to give it some time," Loftis said. "Let's justgive it some breathing room and get organized, and let's just do itright next year."
The salmonella outbreak didn't affect local tomato growers,according to Main Street DDA Executive Director Dana Bulson, butjust the suspicions were enough to put the planning on hold.
"The threat was out there quite a while during the summer, and weneeded to be planning," she said.
The festival was meant to celebrate heirloom tomatoes, as well asother foods and beverages produced locally in West Michigan.
Loftis said downtown restaurants will feature heirloom tomato-basedspecials like bruschetta at the 2009 Tomato Festival, as well asother local fruits, vegetables and alcoholic beverages.
DDA officials said they hope to host the 2009 festival alongWashington Avenue between Harbor Drive and First Street with foodtables and a music stage, Loftis said. Cooking demonstrations bychefs, wine and beer tastings, and a bloody Mary-making contest aresome possible festival highlights, he added.
"It's a food and beverage and music festival all tied in together,"Loftis said. "We'll take a look at all homegrown wines, vodkas,fruits, vegetables — with heirloom tomatoes as the keynote.We'll use it to educate people to the wonderful opportunities inour backyard."
Why play up heirloom tomatoes?
"It's kind of the ugly duckling of tomatoes, but it's really richand flavorful," Loftis said. "It goes back to Roman times. It'sjust a succulent, fantastic tomato — so you celebrate it, thenyou tie-in other things."
Loftis, who owns the Snug Harbor and Dee-Lite restaurants, said theevent will help bring awareness to local farmers like the ones whoset up shop at the Grand Haven and Spring Lake farmers markets.
"When we can look in our own backyard for goods and services, andwhen we can connect with local growers and wine makers and such,then everybody wins," Loftis said.