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Special thanks to our
Guest Judges from:
OMAFRA- from Harrow
Agri-Food Canada
Heinz Agricultural Dept.
Metro Grocery Store
Price Chopper
Real Canadian Superstore
Citrus Sam's
Windsor Star
Local Restaurants
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On June 17-19, 2011 at the Leamington Fair, R.E.A.CH. International hosted its 5th annual Greenhouse Competitions. The biggest Greenhouse Industry growers, marketers and suppliers participated in the annual “Who’s the Hottest Tomato”, “The Perfect Pepper” and “The Coolest Cucumber” competitions with a record number of entries for 2011. The competitions are designed to celebrate Essex County as being the largest greenhouse industry in North America.
These unique competitions happened in two stages. First, on Friday evening, expert judges from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), H.J. Heinz, local grocery stores and chefs from local restaurants judged the 102 entries with a pre-determined list of criteria. Second, throughout Friday and Saturday, 133 people voted for their favourite Tomato, Pepper and Cucumber for the “People’s Choice” awards.
The Awards Ceremony, held on Saturday evening at 7pm, awarded beautiful crystal trophies and bragging rights to all the best producers in North America. The net proceeds from this event will be used for R.E.A.CH.’s main project in Uganda, Africa.
And the 2011 Winners in the Greenhouse Capital of North America & the Tomato Capital of Canada are:
Perfect Pepper Competition:
Best Overall Pepper: #13 Pure Flavor Exclusive Sweet Long Red Peppers - Pure Hothouse Foods
People’s Choice: #59 Ancient Sweet Pepper - Mastronardi Produce /SUNSET®
Best Green Bell Pepper: #99 Pure Flavor Green Pepper - Pure Hothouse Foods
Best Red Bell Pepper: #41 Sunset Red Bell Pepper - Mastronardi Produce /SUNSET®
Best Yellow Bell Pepper: #91 Crosby Yellow Pepper - Howard Huy Farms
Best Orange Bell Pepper: #33 Pure Flavor Orange Pepper - Pure Hothouse Foods
Best Specialty Sweet Pepper: #13 Pure Flavor Exclusive Sweet Long Red Peppers - Pure Hothouse Foods
Best Specialty Hot Pepper: #102 Ancient Hot Pepper - Mastronardi Produce /SUNSET®
Coolest Cucumber Competition:
Best Overall Cucumber: #70 Cool Cukes - Erie James Ltd.
People’s Choice: #9 English Seedless Cucumber - Clifford Produce Sales Ltd.
Best English Seedless Cucumber: #97 Sunsation - Erie James Ltd.
Best Mini Seedless Cucumber: #70 “Cool Cukes” - Erie James Ltd.
Hottest Tomato Competition:
Best Overall Tomato: #73 Zima Bite-Size Tomato - Mastronardi Produce /SUNSET®
People’s Choice: #73 “Zima” Bite-Size Tomato - Mastronardi Produce /SUNSET®
Best Beefsteak Tomato: Fisherville Greehouses
Best Roma Tomato: #72 Mucci Roma - Mucci International
Best Cluster / T.O.V. Tomato: #65 “Delano” Cluster Tomato - Mastronardi Produce /SUNSET®
Best Cocktail Tomato: “Champagne” Cocktail Tomato - Mastronardi Produce /SUNSET®
Best Bite-Size Tomato: #73 “Zima” Bite-Size Tomato - Mastronardi Produce /SUNSET®
Best Specialty Tomato: #23 Orange Kiss - Nature Fresh Farms
For the second year, the generous growers and marketers donated produce for a Greenhouse Farmers Market .This year the farmers market was run by and all proceeds went to the Salvation Army Foodbank. Support from the community was extremely positive, and since the food bank can use the unsold produce, there was no waste and many people were blessed.
R.E.A.CH. is a small charity run entirely by local volunteers. This small but mighty group has raised several thousands of dollars to build schools & clinics, drill water wells, and sponsor and care for impoverished children in Uganda, Africa. Their unique program guarantees that 100% of child-sponsorship dollars goes to help the children. “We do separate fundraisers, such as this one, to raise money for operating expenses. Since we’re all volunteers, our expenses are very low. Whatever we raise beyond those expenses also goes to our projects.
The high integrity of REACH and the life-changing trips some volunteers have made to Uganda make us passionate to continue helping these precious children,” says event organizer, Nicole Barron.
To get more information or to get involved, contact
Nicole Barron (519) 968-2612 or email nic.barron@gmail.com.
© Copyright 2007-2011 - R.E.A.CH. International Hottest Tomato Competition.
Which greenhouse grower will have the hottest greenhouse produce in the Greenhouse Capital of North America?
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