SeeCalifornia.com

Pictured is Woodland Tomato Festival

California has traditionally led the nation in production of tomatoes but due to drought the Golden State’s crop has been down by 26% and Florida has aced California out. Perhaps that is why the state has been omitted from the tomato battles that were wildly popular in recent years, though one event, Tomato Royale, promises to return in 2016.  Festival-goers and tomato fans can still look forward to the oldest and most seasoned tomato festivals this year, however. In Fairfield they are even  getting excited about the heirlooms to be sampled and sold at the annual festival in mid-August. Anticipation is the best part of eating tomatoes, which were thought to be poisonous when first introduced to the U.S. New to the scene is the SteakHouse tomato so big that is poised to set world records for size. Renamed Gigantomo, this Burpee product is so large that a single tomato feeds a family of four. On the plant the tomatoes are so heavy they most be propped up. They grow as big as 10″ wide and can weigh 3 lbs.