Tomato Fest 2024

Tomato Tasting and Cornell Vegetable Variety Trial Garden Tour of African Roots

Wednesday, September 10, 2025, 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schoharie and Otsego County (CCESO) is hosting a fun filled (and delicious) evening program at its new demonstration garden at 123 Lake Street in Cooperstown on Wednesday, September 10 from 4:30-6:30 pm. The guided program will begin at 5:00 pm. Join Otsego Master Gardener Volunteers and learn about the Vegetable Varieties Garden Trials, taste delicious varieties of tomatoes, and share some of your favorite recipes!

Every year CCESO Master Gardeners participate in the Cornell Vegetable Varieties Trial Garden, which highlights vegetables from around the world. This is one of several trial gardens throughout the state that is used to trial annual and perennial vegetable varieties for Cornell University Research to determine germination rate, disease resistance, growth habit, vegetable and fruit production while showcasing gardening techniques that can be used by home gardeners.

Master Gardener Volunteers, Celia Oxley and Tina McGurrin will guide visitors through the Cornell Vegetable Varieties Trial Garden which showcases Cultural Roots of African Diaspora. Varieties include White Velvet Okra, plate de Haiti tomatoes, Moses Mith Yellow cabbage collards, Sea Island Red pea Cowpea, Scent Leaf Basil, Intore African Eggplant, Thelma Sanders Sweet Potato, Fish Pepper and Buena Mulata Pepper. Information about the vegetables will be on signs posted in the gardens. Master Gardeners will also have several varieties of tomatoes to share and sample, as well as some of their favorite recipes.

This program is free and open to the public. The public is also welcome to visit the CCE demonstration gardens during daylight hours to explore the 12-bed demonstration garden. Each bed is dedicated to a different theme and designed to showcase a variety of gardening and gardening techniques. Beds include All American Selections, native plants, deer resistant plants, perennial, annuals, pollinator, and vegetable beds.

For more information about Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schoharie and Otsego County’s community programs and events, go to http://cceschoharie-otsego.org or call 518-234-4303 ext 129.Stay connected to CCE Master Gardeners’ daily postings at https://www.facebook.com/cceotsegoMG/and follow CCE Schoharie and Otsego on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CCESchoharieOtsego/.