The Crop That Won Best Tomato in Pittsburgh

When people ask my friends Kaydi and Keith Gratzer what they grow in their backyard garden in Pittsburgh’s Windgap neighborhood, she says, “It’s almost easier to tell you what we don’t grow.”

One crop, though, is the real winner.

The Gratzers submitted their sungold cherry tomato in the “Best Tomato in Pittsburgh” contest at the Pittsburgh County Fair on Sept. 17 and won first place.

“They’re special for their combination of sweet flavor and small size,” Kaydi says. “It’s the perfect bite-sized snacking tomato.”

The judges gave an overall score of 8.4 (out of 10) in the categories of aroma, texture, and flavor. They were required to bring enough tomatoes for three judges to taste, plus one for display.

“I brought six, and they ate them all. There was nothing but stems left on our plate,” she says. “Suffice to say they came back for seconds!”

🍅 Missed out on the fun? Keep up with Grow Pittsburgh, and look out for next year’s urban agricultural celebration of handmade, homegrown, and fermented fun.

🌱 And if you want an award-winning tomato like the Gratzers, here are some tips on how to make your garden grow in Pittsburgh.