Though we’ve had some rain recently, it’s still summer—and still peak tomato season. So Saturday, September 12 is an apt time to celebrate that queen of summer, the tomato. The 6th annual Tomato Fest is four hours of tomatoey goodness on a blocked off street in Southeast Portland—and buckwheat will be joining the chat this year. More details below.
6th Annual Tomato Fest: The Basics
This event is produced by the Culinary Breeding Network and Wellspent Market, and takes place on Saturday, September 12 from noon to 4pm along SE 34th Avenue between Division and Clinton Streets.
I spent some time there last year and have memories of samples of delicious tomatoes and melons, tomato temporary tattoos that lasted a week on my body, refreshing cherry limeade, pizza and some other baked goods—and some tomato swag. I really think this is one of my favorite Portland food festivals of the year (Quince Fest is also up there).
Here are some of those photos from last year (click to enlarge).
Tomatoes at the 6th Annual Tomato Fest
Like last year, there will be tomatoes to taste, including dry-farmed tomatoes that use far less water (sometimes no water) than conventional tomatoes. Also dry-farmed melons will be back to taste. And not only will you have a chance to taste these fruits, you can speak with the farmers and researchers who are spending time on these dry-farmed varieties, with sustainability on their mind.
Buckwheat Joins the 6th Annual Tomato Fest
You may know buckwheat as kasha, a kind of porridge; kasha varnishkes, which is kasha and noodles together; or as a filling for knishes. Or you may know it as buckwheat flour used in gluten-free baking. It’s also a good cover crop (I am considering using it for my raised beds this year).
This year at Tomato Fest, WSU Breadlab will be in collab, bringing their knowledge to share about both the resilience and tastiness of buckwheat. Will we see some knishes? That would be cool.
6th Annual Tomato Fest Lineup
Here’s a handy list of who you’ll see, from sampling to the educational side of things.
Informational Vendors and Tabling
- Culinary Breeding Network: One of the Tomato Fest organizers, they’ll have veg-centric goods, including posters, tees, totes, tea towels, hats, and patches.
- Dry Farm Institute: Learn all about farming techniques that use less water.
- OSU Tomato Breeding: Legendary plant breeder Jim Myers will be there with “tomatoes of the future” that you can taste yourself.
- OSU Dry Farmed Research: Taste tomatoes and melons grown without irrigation, which are reputed as having big, intense flavor.
- Oregon Organic Coalition: A focus on local produce, keeping it clean and tasty.
- Seed rEvolution Now!: A “mission-driven company promoting the development of organic, public domain, primarily vegetable seed,” they are part of the Organic Seed Alliance based in Port Townsend , WA. They’ll have locally-grown and bred tomato varieties of all types.
- Siskiyou Seeds: “Heirloom, organic, open-pollinated seeds from the Cascadia Bioregion.”
- Brass Tacks Farm: An urban microfarm located in the Cully neighborhood in Northeast Portland.
- Garlicana: They are a very small farm in Tiller, Oregon (in the Umpqua National Forest) offering “esoteric garlic exotica.”
- Secano Dry Farm: They will have treats from Matt Davis, a fourth generation dry farmer and OSU Faculty Researcher. The farm is based in Albany, Oregon.
- Serious Goose Farm: This is a small urban farm in Gresham operated by Goose David, who will bring vegetables from the farm with him.
Food Demonstrations
- Fulamingo: Kana Hinohara Hanson.
- Hot Mama Salsa: Nikki Guerrero.
- Kachka: Bonnie Morales.
- OPB’s Super Abundant: Heather Arndt Anderson.
- Sauvette: Leila Schneider.
- Wellspent Market: Jim Dixon.
Food for Purchase, and Collabs
- Commensal Fermenation: They’ll be doing a collab with the Tomato Fest.
- Lauretta Jean’s: Pies (sweet and savory) and pastries.
- Pinolo Gelato: Their excellent gelato, including a collab with the Fest.
- Scottie’s Pizza Parlor: Pizza Pizza! Panzanella! Party!
- Wellspent Market: Their legendary BLTs, plus beverages and buckwheat treats.
Entertainment and Other Attractions
- Benjamin Bryant, AKA DJ Ben GB, spinning during the Fest.
- “Tomato Fit” Style Contest: A chance to show off your most tomato-y outfits. There will be prizes.
- Face Painting.
- Crafts.
This event is free and open to the public. Hope to see you there!
6th Annual Tomato Fest
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Noon to 4pm
Wellspent Market, 3402 SE Division Street, Portland (SE 34th Avenue between SE Division and SE Clinton Street)
Tomato Fest website | Wellspent Market website | Instagram | Facebook
Meg Cotner
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