Celebrate our Official State Fruit . . . or is it a Vegatable?

The pink tomato is the official Arkansas state vegetable and fruit (legislators said it's botanically a fruit and culinary a vegetable). The tomatoes aren't bight pink, but they have a pinkish hue. The species (South Arkansas Vine Ripe Pink Tomato) was planted by early farmers in Bradley County in the 1920s because they would ship well if picked when the tops of the fruit just barely turned pink. According to the encyclopedia of Arkansas, they probably descended from pink “heirloom” strains as the Brandywine and the Cherokee Purple.

According to the same site, in 1989, southeast Arkansas producers shipped 11,820 tons of fruit. They shipped over 4,000 tons in both 2004 and 2005. That's a lot of tomatoes. With today's technology, they're normally not the "pink" variety. Today's red tomatoes ship better and are heartier.

However, our state has a long history with the pink tomato. That's why Bradly County celebrates this tasty little fruit (or vegetable). The Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival actually spans two weekends, and is filled with lots of tomato fun.

This weekend the festival kicks off on June 6-7 with pageants, a fish fry and a golf tournament. To me, this isn't the weekend for tourists to check it out. They do have a Thursday even this year that seems interesting. On June 11, they'll be making a world record bacon, lettuce, & tomato sandwich. It's supposed to be 160 feet in length, and portions will be cut and sold at the festival. Thursday also marks the opening of the carnival and a music jamboree.

June 12 and 13 are the real festival. That's when the booths, arts and crafts, turtle races, food, entertainment and more will all be in the town square. If you are going to for the actual festival, I think the 12-13 are the days to go.

The Pink Tomato Festival is not as large as some of the other festivals, but it's a well run festival and a good time. You probably won't spend all day there.

Check their schedule, and get ready to celebrate the pink tomato.