SNOW HILL, MD. An Heirloom Tomato Tasting will be held at Furnace Town on Sunday August 3 from 1 - 4 pm. Tomatoes in shades of yellow, red and combinations, with names like Azoychka, Bloody Butcher, Garden Peach, and Mortgage Lifter are being grown for this event popular with those who treasure the summer flavor of fresh-from-the-garden tomatoes.

The various tomato varieties will be lined up on picnic tables beneath the Pavilion, where the tasting of about a dozen varieties such as Mr. Stripey, Yellow Pear, Jaune Flammee, Black Krim and more will take place. Actual tomatoes featured will depend upon the weather. Staff and volunteers, including tomato growers Jeff and Melissa Bacon, will be busy cutting bitesize samples of each heirloom variety, placing the samples in individual cups, and placing them on the tasting table in front of the un-cut tomatoes. Information about growing tomatoes will be shared by Extension Educators Ginny Rosenkrantz and Laura Hunsberger, along with Master Gardeners.

The set-up will be similar to a wine tasting, and judging cards will be available for each taster. The tomatoes may be rated from 1 - 5 (5 being best) on initial taste, texture, after-taste and overall - with room for comments. Comments from the 2007 tasting included: tastes better than it looks, bland, more acidic than expected, nice, sweet taste, yummy, wonderful and ew! The 2007 winner was a tie between Hogs Heart and Brandywine, followed by German Queen, Big Rainbow and Mariannas Peace.

The Heirloom Tomato Tasting is included in daily site admission of $4.00 adults/$3.50 AAA or over 60/$2.00 age 2 - 18. All proceeds benefit Furnace Town’s educational programs. Call 410-632-2032 or visit www.furnacetown.com.