"Tomatoes at the Trotter"

Guests enjoyed a delicious feast of five-tomato salad, stuffed tomato basil
chicken, fresh tomato flatbread, tomato & seasoned sweet corn, tomato
green beans, heavenly tomato cake.  All were prepared by Aramark Food
Service under the direction of Chef Chris Hollingsworth.

On Friday night, July 8th, the UAM Agriculture Department hosted a delicious "Tomato" event at the Trotter House in Monticello. It started with a blind taste test of 19 Heirloom tomatoes. The attendees were then delighted with an "all-tomato menu." Included were flat bread, fresh tomato salad, corn, green beans, and bacon-wrapped chicken breasts stuffed with tomatoes & cheese. The Warren Pink Tomato Festival's Heavenly Tomato Cake provided a chocolaty finish. Amazingly every dish included tomatoes as an ingredient.

The program featured Dr. Bob Stark and Dr. Paul Francis presenting special guests, as well as, giving a thumbnail sketch of their research in Heirloom Tomato varieties designed to bring back the booming tomato market to the Seark area. Special features include the remarkable taste of the Heirlooms and their consistently high selling price to customers with discerning tastes. Rep. Sheilla Lampkin told the "tomato story" of Drew County, beginning with the 1917 farmer who started things off, continuing through booms and busts and including the state legislature's designating the humble tomato as the State's Fruit & Vegetable.

It was a wonderful evening under the pecan & magnolia trees of the Trotter House with the cicadas humming overhead. Thanks UAM Department of Agriculture!

In attendance from Warren were Mr. and Mrs. John Gavin, Mr. and Mrs. Gregg Reep, and Mr. and Mrs. John Lipton.

State Representative Sheilla Lampkin gave a keynote address on
the history of the tomato industry in Drew County.

Patti Moffat, 1936 Tomato Queen was also in attendance.

Dr. Kelly Bryant, Head of UAM Department of Agriculture

Guests at the event tasted samples of 19 heirloom tomatoes and participated
in a taste test.  The Cherokee Heirloom Tomato won.

Dr. Paul Francis introduces guests at the event.