SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Local farmers and chefs spiced up Saturday's farmers market in the borough with tomatoes. There was even a tomato-dish contest.
Becky Hoover, Schuylkill Haven, was voted the winner by seven of 10 people who came out to try four entries between 9 and 11 a.m. Saturday at the farmers market at the train station, according to Heidi Kemble, Schuylkill Haven, owner of Oceans Away Salon and Spa, 25 W. Main St., and the organizer of this year's Saturday farmers market in the borough.
Hoover prepared a "Tri-Color Tomato Basil Salad," which she made using tomatoes from her home garden, tended by her husband, Mark.
"It includes whatever was in my garden and refrigerator. I used a Striped-German tomato, a Black Prince Heirloom tomato and a Brandywine tomato. Plus, I used my own home-grown garlic," Hoover said Saturday evening.
She won a gift bag Kemble donated. It was a reusable canvas bag promoting the Schuylkill Haven Farmers Market and it contained hair products and gift certificates from Oceans Away Salon and Spa.
Hoover said she entered because she visits Kemble's spa and appreciated how much Kemble supported the farmers market.
"She kept pushing it and she kept posting on Facebook that she needed contestants. So, I'll support her because she's doing all this out of the goodness of her heart. She was frustrated at one point because she wasn't getting as much support," Hoover said.
The other entries were: "Heirloom Tomato and Sweet Corn Pie" by Beverly Cook, Schuylkill Haven; a "Tomato Pie" by What's In The Oven? Pies, Schuylkill Haven; and "Tomato-Bacon-Apple Preserves" by Regina Gargano, Pottsville, who is the executive director of the Schuylkill County Visitors Bureau.
Kemble would not say how the others did in the voting, but she did say that Gargano's preserves always came up during the voting.
"They always teetered back and forth between Becky's salad and Regina's tomato spread," Kemble said.
Gargano offered insights into her dish with a sheet of information on display near the jar.
"This is a versatile preserve. You may serve it on crackers, pita chips, pumpernickel and rye baguettes with feta, chevre, havarti, sharp cheddar, cream cheese, you name it. It also goes extremely well with roasted or grilled chicken, duck, pork or turkey," Gargano said in the introduction.
Gargano said it can also be used to make a chunky barbecue sauce.
"You can slather it on wraps and sandwiches and it's great on grilled cheese," Gargano said in the sheet.
Gargano could not be reached for comment Saturday night.
Holding a farmers market on a Saturday in the borough is a relatively new concept. Traditionally, it's held on Thursdays, an event run by the Greater Schuylkill Haven Area Business Association. This year, Kemble took the initiative to start holding it on Saturdays.
The next Saturday market will be held Oct. 13.
"That one will be our pumpkin festival," Kemble said.