March 25, 2014 – They are the star of every summer garden and now Love Apple Farm’s Cynthia Sandberg is launching the very first World Tomato Society—a community of tomato lovers to be based in Scotts Valley.
“There are all sorts of groups the home gardener can join—dahlia growers, the iris society—but the tomato has been neglected until now, despite the fact that it’s the number one grown edible plant in the world,” says Sandberg.
Love Apple Farm got its start growing heirloom tomatoes in Ben Lomond and each spring hosts a tomato seedling sale with over 100 varieties that attracts gardeners from around the Bay Area. This year it runs from March 29 to June 1 at 5311 Scotts Valley Dr. in Scotts Valley.
“As a grower, tomatoes are like jewels to me,” she says. “They come in all different shapes and colors and flavors, then they are so versatile in the kitchen.”
The website of the World Tomato Society catalogs some 5,000 varieties of tomatoes from AAA Sweet Solano to Zwerg Israel. Sandberg is starting a seed bank to save all the varieties, which will eventually operate as a seed exchange among members.
Video tutorials on growing tomatoes, dealing with pests, pruning, cooking with them, canning and seed saving are all included on the World Tomato Society website. It can be previewed by the general public 
until May 1, after that it will be available only to members of the society who pay a $39 annual membership fee.
Members will have access to webinars and cooking videos made by top chefs—one starring Noma’s René Redzepi is currently being shot in Denmark and David Kinch of Manresa will also offer a gourmet tomato cooking lesson.
Right now you can visit the website for videos on making tomato bread salad, spaghetti sauce, ketchup and tips on which types of tomatoes are best suited for different uses.
Members also get first crack at the annual tomato plant sale, with admission 2 hours before the general public at 8am on Saturday, March 29.
About the author
At Edible Monterey Bay, our mission is to celebrate the local food culture of Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey Counties, season by season. We believe in sustainability, and we believe everyone has a right to healthful, clean and affordable food. We think knowing where our food comes from is powerful, and we hope our magazine, website and newsletters inspire readers to get to know and support our local growers, fishers, chefs, vintners and food artisans.
