It’s a showcase of a major Alabama agricultural industry.
It’s networking for Alabama politicians, ag employees, farmers and tomato lovers.
Most of all, it’s a delicious lunch featuring a Southern staple.
The annual Tomato Sandwich Lunch has been going on for 21 years. Agriculture and Industries commissioner Rick Pate will host it again on June 26. It will be behind Montgomery’s Garrett Coliseum in the Ed Teague Arena from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The event is free, put on by the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries and sponsors. The Ag department staff serves the hundreds of Alabama eaters.
The star of the show is the Sweet Grown Alabama tomato sandwich. A buffet line allows the eater (you) to custom-make the tomato sandwich of your choice. The ingredients are there, and you choose.
Beef steak sliced tomatoes
Bama Mayonnaise
Salt and pepper
White bread (in the South, “loafa bread”)
These basics create the most popular item, the plain tomato sandwich. Other add-ons are available for fancier tastes:
Lettuce
Zeigler Bacon
Sweet onion
Goat cheese
Sides include:
Silver Queen Corn
Milo’s Sweet Tea
Chilton County Peach Cobbler
Blue Bell Ice Cream
The event is free. No ticket or RSVP is needed. Come on out and get in line. Attire is summer come-as-you-are. Because of the juicy tomatoes, bibs are welcomed and neckties are discouraged.
After eating, you are invited outside to the Sweet Grown Alabama Farmer’s Market, where you can buy and take home fresh Alabama produce.
Slocumb wears the title of “Tomato Capital.” It is in eastern Geneva County near Dothan. Hundreds of Slocumb tomatoes will be consumed at the lunch and sold at the farmer’s market. The most popular tomato type from Slocumb is the Globe Tomato.
Only two things money can't buy
That's true love and homegrown tomatoes.
— John Denver, raised in Montgomery. Most folks don’t know that.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler’s beat is the colorful and positive about Alabama. He writes about Alabama people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
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