For this month’s Garden-to-Kitchen series on tomatoes, we visited the State Farmers Market in Raleigh, NC. Follow garden health educator, Catherine Wills, as she shares her experience learning how Tart’s Produce grows and sells tomatoes.
I recently took a trip to the State Farmers Market to learn more about how NC farmers sell tomatoes. Of course, I also bought some produce – I couldn’t resist! When I walked into the market, my attention was immediately caught by a display of bright, beautiful tomatoes, and I made my way over to Tart’s Strawberry and Produce. At the stand, I met an employee of Tart’s and had a conversation all about tomatoes.
Tart’s Strawberry and Produce, owned by Charles Tart, is a family-owned business located in Dunn, NC. They are primarily known for growing strawberries, but their tomato selection is equally impressive. They also sell other produce, such as corn, squash, okra, and cucumbers.
They recently expanded their retail area at their Dunn location to include a gift shop with a bakery and a variety of homemade jams, jellies, and preserves. Find out what’s available now on Tart’s Produce Facebook page.
Let’s talk tomatoes. Tart’s had a diverse variety of tomatoes including Trust, BetterBoy, Heirloom, Roma, Grape, and Cherry. We discussed that Tart’s has perfected their selection of varieties over the years based on what grows best and what the customers request. Tart’s typically sells tomatoes from May-July/August and will have more varieties later in the season.
I asked about Tart’s process of storing and transporting their tomatoes. Tart’s tomatoes are picked fresh and stored at room temperature until ready for transport. I browsed their selection of tomatoes and asked how to pick the perfect tomato. It’s all about the senses! To pick the ripest tomato, aim for a deep, vibrant color and make sure it’s somewhat firm but not too hard. I was let in on a secret: Don’t skip the imperfect or misfit tomatoes, they’re usually the best ones.
With that good advice in mind, I confidently bought a BetterBoy tomato. When I got home, I knew exactly how I wanted to enjoy my fresh tomato. I simply sliced the tomato with cucumbers and seasoned it with salt and pepper. I added a splash of apple cider vinegar and voila! I enjoyed a refreshing summer salad.
Tart’s Strawberry and Produce
100 North Powell Avenue
Dunn, NC 28334
910-892-1324
https://tartsstrawberryproduce.net/
[email protected]
