<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">Tomato Fiesta Features Salsa Competition and City Garden Fair <DIV> <SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">For Immediate Release:<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 9"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 11"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">PORTLAND</SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> FARMERS MARKET TOMATO FIESTA SET FOR SEPTEMBER 2nd <o:p></o:p></SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Tomato Tasting, Salsa Making Contest, City Garden Fair Competition and Petting Zoo Make it a Blue Ribbon Affair<o:p></o:p></SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN> <st1:City w:st="on"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">PORTLAND</SPAN></st1:City><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">, <st1:State w:st="on">Ore<SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal">.</SPAN></st1:State><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"> - August 21 - More than 50 varieties of tomatoes - ripe, juicy and fresh-from-the-vine - will be sampled at Portland Farmers Market Tomato Fiesta, Saturday, Sept. 2, from <st1:time w:st="on" Hour="8" Minute="30">8:30 a.m.</st1:time> to <st1:time w:st="on" Hour="14" Minute="0">2 p.m.</st1:time> on the South Park Blocks at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Portland</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The annual event takes tomato lovers beyond the BLT and into the realm of salsas, soups and salads. A tasting buffet will help shoppers discover the difference between a pear and a plum tomato, and gain exposure to numerous hybrid and heirloom varieties.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">Truly a family event, participants of all ages can meet farm animals at a petting zoo sponsored by 4-H of Columbia County, participate in the City Garden Fair, enter a salsa making competition, listen to live Latin music and watch a tomato-inspired chef demonstration by Cathy Whims of Nostrana Restaurant. In addition to bushels of tomatoes, the market's more than 100 vendors will sell locally raised meats, fresh seafood, artisan breads, cheeses, chocolates, desserts, produce and fresh flowers.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">Enter the Salsa Making Competition<o:p></o:p></SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">Salseros (salsa masters) of all ages can enter their prized salsa recipes in the market's competition. Entries can be fresh or home-canned in accordance to canning practices recognized by USDA, OSU Extension Service or Ball/Kerr and will be judged in three categories: tomato salsas, tomatillo salsas and fruit salsas.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>All entries must clearly marked with the name of the product. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Contest participants can drop-off their salsa on Sept. 2 between 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. at the market's Salsa Competition Booth.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There is no entry fee and participants can enter in more than one category; however, only one submission per category.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Winners will be announced at noon and need not be present to win.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The top two winners will be honored with prizes and the salsa taking first place will be shared with shoppers from the market's "Taste the Place" booth the following week.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Enter the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">City</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Garden</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> Fair <o:p></o:p></SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">Backyard growers and community garden farmers of all ages can enter their best fruit, vegetable, flower, plant oddity or exotic to win a ribbon.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Participants can enter multiple categories and youths have their own division.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Entries will be accepted between 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Items will be displayed until 1:45 p.m.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For complete categories and divisions, contact <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Community</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Gardens</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> at 503.823.1612 or e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] <o:p></o:p></SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">Portland Farmers Market 2006 season is made possible by the support of generous sponsorships from The Oregonian, West Coast Bank and Organic Valley Family of Farms.<o:p></o:p></SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">About <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Portland</st1:City></st1:place> Farmers Market:<o:p></o:p></SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">Four urban green markets make up the city's beloved Portland Farmers Market. These markets run from April through December and serve more than 20,000 shoppers weekly. With more than 250 vendors from Oregon and Washington - including farms, bakeries, nurseries, meat and seafood providers, cheese makers and specialty food producers - the Portland Farmers Market is a true showplace of Northwest agriculture. The Portland Farmer's Market is a registered 501 (c) 6 non-profit organization.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For more information visit www.portlandfarmersmarket.org <http://www.portlandfarmersmarket.org/> or call 503-241-0032.<o:p></o:p></SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond"># # #<o:p></o:p></SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">Media contact: <o:p></o:p></SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">Nancy Mattson<o:p></o:p></SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Garamond">503 241-0032 or [EMAIL PROTECTED]<o:p></o:p></SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN>
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