'Battle of the Tomatoes!'

DAYTON – Cherokee Purple, Black Krim, Green Zebra, Brandywine. One of these or a dozen other heirloom tomato varieties could be this year's winner at the Third Annual Heirloom Tomato Tasting Competition and Dinner event this weekend in Dayton.

The main event begins Sunday at 4 p.m. at TamiJoyFarm, near the south end of S. Fourth St. Guests will be able to taste up to 15 varieties of heirloom tomatoes, entered by local area growers. Heirloom tomatoes are grown from non-hybrid seeds, and come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors.

Local growers are invited to submit an entry for the competition.

Guests on Sunday will also enjoy a dinner featuring TamiJoyFarm-raised pork roasted by The Q Wood-Fired Grill and Catering on Weinhard Café pretzel buns. The evening will include wine tasting, featuring the wines of Dayton's Dumas Station winery and beer tasting featuring the beers of Dayton's Chief Springs Fire and Irons microbrewery. The Knutzen Brothers, from Tri Cities, will provide live music.

Tickets for the heirloom tomato event are $25. The event is sponsored by TamiJoyFarm, Blue Mountain Station Cooperative, the Dayton Chamber of Commerce, the Port of Columbia and Pacific Power.

Other activities on Sunday are available for event guests. These include guided tours at the Boldman House Museum and special tours of their heirloom garden; tours of Blue Mountain Station's Artisan Food Center and tours of the Dayton Historic Depot museum.

For more information about the Third Annual Heirloom Tomato Tasting Competition and Dinner event this weekend, or to purchase tickets, go to tamijoyfarm.com or call the Dayton Chamber of Commerce at (509) 382-4825. Tickets can be purchased online or at the Chamber of Commerce office at 166 E. Main Street.