Tomato, Tomatoe or ‘Mater…?

Crossroads Farm - August 2025 Blog

As August winds down here at Crossroads, we find ourselves swimming in tomatoes quite literally! Any backyard gardener or local farmer knows the mix of patience and nerves that comes with waiting for the fruit to ripen on the vine. This year, all of us were holding our breath to see if they’d be ready in time for our Tomato Harvest Festival on August 24th. And, almost magically, the fields delivered the tomatoes ripened all at once in mid-August, just in time for the celebration.

We were fortunate to share this abundance with our talented local partners. Grami Café, Harvest House, and Uva Rossa each created incredible dishes that honored the season’s bounty. Chef Antonio of Uva Rossa prepared recipes that struck a personal chord with me, stirring up memories of cooking alongside my Italian grandmother. Food has a beautiful way of connecting us to the past, and this harvest carried those traditions forward in such a meaningful way.
This peak moment in the season is something we farmers and customers alike treasure. The flood of field-grown tomatoes into our farm store feels like a signal of reassurance that everything in the growing season is right on track. It’s a fleeting window, but one we savor together.

And the tradition doesn’t end at the festival. This week, our farm staff is gathering to make and jar tomato sauce from the surplus. It’s a ritual passed down to me from my family: everyone coming together to preserve the harvest so we can enjoy the flavors of August long after summer has passed. On the farm, this tradition now belongs to our extended “farm family,” and it’s one of the most special parts of the year.

Yes, we’re all a little tired, this is August after all, but the energy is contagious. One farmer said it best: “We’ll have plenty of time to sleep this winter.” That sentiment captures the heart of this season. The work may be exhausting, but it’s also exhilarating, and it’s what we live for.

Right now, we’re eating tomatoes like apples, slicing them into salads, blending them into salsas, and simmering them down into sauce. And, of course, mozzarella sales always seem to spike because what’s August without caprese salad? Tomatoes, basil, mozzarella: it’s the taste of summer on a plate.

From our fields to your tables, thank you for cherishing this fleeting but oh-so-delicious season with us. Your support keeps our farm thriving, and we couldn’t be more grateful. Here’s to tomatoes however you say it, they’re the heart of August at Crossroads.