Big tomato may be new state record

WASILLA — Summer is here and with it this year Mat-Su Borough tomato lovers can enjoy a gardeners’ paradise of heirloom tomato varieties grown by the Oathout family in their Mid-Valley Garden and Greenhouse on Hyer Road.

Mark Oathout grows tomatoes while wife Sharmin prefers flowers. Their new business venture set what may be a new state record when a tomato that measured 19 inches around and weighed 2.975 pounds was cut down and weighed by Division of Weights and Measures on June 5.

Mark said each heirloom variety — with names like 1884, Sudduth’s Strain and Julia Child — is grown for its own special qualities, such as flavor, texture, color or being good for canning. He said there are thousands of varieties, each with their own specific traits — yellow, orange and brilliant shades of red, some with stripes and others that turn black as they ripen.

The plan is to sell tomatoes ripe from the vine to customers, not retailers, Mark said.

“There’s nothing sprayed on ’em. Nothing weird in the soil,” he said. “It’s good stuff.”

The greenhouse is taking orders for its flavorful wares and people can add their name to the list by sending an email to midvalleyak@yahoo.com.

For more information, contact 373-6691.