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Gary Ibsen’s Carmel Tomatofest® Attracts Tomato Lovers From Around the World
What started out as a small get-together for family and friends celebrating the season's tomato harvest has grown into the best family-event of the year in Central California, and an annual fundraising event for local and regional youth charities.
"The Carmel TomatoFest® is likely the world's largest tomato-tasting event when you consider the number of varieties displayed," said Gary Ibsen. "But the real attraction is the exceptional quality of tomato cuisine offered by some of America's most celebrated chefs, the outstanding regional wines served and the amazing array of specialty foods, salsas and olive oils. The TomatoFest® is a down-home friendly community harvest festival for gardeners, chefs, winemakers and food lovers," Ibsen added.
Gary Ibsen's Carmel TomatoFest® events will include a tomato "tasting" of 350 varieties, including the recently released "Julia Child" heirloom tomato, an extravagant country BBQ and a sampling of exemplary gourmet tomato entrées created by top chefs from 60 of America's finest restaurants. The festival also includes a tasting of more than 100 Monterey County and California premium wines, a savory salsa showcase featuring 90 of the nation's best tomato salsas, and an international olive oil tasting featuring extra-virgin oils from eight countries and California. Attendees at the festival will have the opportunity to hear outstanding live jazz music and purchase hard-to-find heirloom tomato seeds.
Sunset magazine, a primary sponsor of Gary Ibsen's Carmel TomatoFest®, will feature a pavilion for culinary and gardening displays, as well as demonstrations. Whole Foods Market, another dedicated sponsor, will feature culinary tastings and activities for children at their pavilion, and a Country Store will showcase selected specialty products from Maine to California.
Reservations are required in advance by ticket purchase. General admission tickets are $75 before May 20, and after May 21, tickets are $85. Special VIP/Hosted Entrance tickets are $150, and a Deluxe Package ticket including a dinner-dance on September 10 at Carmel Valley Ranch Resort is $220. Tickets may be purchased through the Website at www.tomatofest.com or by calling 1-800-965-4827. Net proceeds are donated to local youth charities. The event is a sellout every year, so interested persons are encouraged to buy their tickets early.
Gary Ibsen is an advocate of certified organic, sustainable farming and seed saving. He has grown heirloom tomatoes for more than 30 years and is currently growing more than 500 heirloom tomato varieties from seeds he has personally harvested. These seeds were originally sourced from family farms around the world. Tomato growers from Central California will also contribute to the selection of tomatoes showcased at the TomatoFest.