| Overton CSA Farm Hosts Tomato Festival | |||
| By Rachel Brandes Moapa Valley Progress Published June 24, 2009 Quail Hollow Farms held its 1st Annual Heirloom Tomato Tasting & Salsa Competition on Saturday, June 20. About 60 people were in attendance at the event. “We couldn’t be more happy with the turnout!”stated farm owner Laura Bledsoe. Quail Hollow Farms is located in Overton off of Anderson Road. The three acre farm is run by the Bledsoe family and became a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program in 2006. A CSA has private shareholder who buy into the farm. |
 Volunteers keep busy cutting a variety of tomatoes during the 1st Annual Heirloom Tomato Tasting & Salsa Competition at Quail Hollow Farms on Saturday, June 20, 2009. |
||
| Shareholders receive a share basket each week with over 30 different vegetables often including fresh herbs and cut flowers.
With an impressive turnout the Bledsoes had plenty of volunteer helpers. On one table was a bright display of over 20 varieties of tomatoes for attendees to taste and judge as well as approximately 10 different homemade salsas. With a total of 31 tally sheets submitted the judging began. |
 Let the taste test begin… Attendees sample several different homemade salsa during the 1st Annual Heirloom Tomato Tasting & Salsa Competition at Quail Hollow Farms on Saturday, June 20, 2009.All varieties of tomatoes were up for sale following the event. |
In the tomato tasting competition the first place tomato was the Amish Paste Tomato. “This tomato won by a long shot,”stated Bledsoe. In second place was the Thessaleniki tomato and in third was a tie with the Dr. Wyches Yellow and Sun Ray tomato. All four varieties are new to Quail Hollow Farms.
“This was the first time I have grown these types of tomatoes,”explained Bledsoe. |
| All varieties of tomatoes were up for sale following the event.
In the salsa competition there were a colorful variety of salsas brought in by attendees. Salsas were judged on several categories including he hottest, most unusual and best overall. Taking first place as the “Best Salsa”was a mild Italian Salsa made by Frank and Sara Sciulla of Las Vegas. The Sciullas heard of the contest through a friend and made the trip to Overton with a few family members. Not only did the couple have the opportunity to meet new people but they walked away with a one month subscription to Quail Hollow Farms giving them four weeks of share baskets. Local resident Jules Costa who arrived a bit late in the day made a fiery impression with her hot salsa. Costa arrived confident that her salsa would take the prize and she was right. Costa’s entry took first place winning her a $50 gift card to Valley Cheese and Wine in Las Vegas. Costa explained that her salsa with the exception of the cilantro which is out of season was made from all locally grown fresh vegetables. The winner of the “unusual”salsa was Las Vegas resident Michael Napolitano. Napolitano is a current share holder at Quail Hollow Farms. His unique salsa included items such as figs, cherries and foie gras. This one definitely qualified as “unusual. Napolitano also received a $50 gift card to Valley Cheese and Wine. During the event local farmers had set up shops at which attendees could purchase any of their home grown items. Locals Jeff and Linda Hanks brought along some of their super sized cucumbers as well as fresh homemade mozzarella and ricotta cheeses. The Hanks’ are just getting their garden off the ground. “Right now it is a private garden,”explained Jeff. The Hanks’ look forward to expanding their garden in the near future. Local farmer Larry Barnum was also there selling his fresh garlic as well as squash, peppers, cucumbers and onions. Sylvan Wittwer’s famous tomatoes and onions were also available for purchase during the event. |
