MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Summer in Alabama means lots of things: heat and humidity, trips to the lake or the beach, but most importantly, fresh homegrown produce.
In an effort to showcase Alabama’s crops, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate hosted the 23rd annual Tomato Sandwich Lunch on Wednesday.
Hundreds of farmers, politicians and community members attended the luncheon at the Ed Teague Arena in Montgomery, getting their fill of the classic Southern delicacy.
Pate called the event “a phenomenon unto itself.”
“I cannot explain it,” Pate said of the turnout. “I can be serving steaks, and I couldn’t get 600 people to show up. There’s something about a tomato sandwich … with all the (Make America Healthy Again) and eating right. Of course, this is straight off of Alabama farms.”
All of the products showcased were donated, including tomatoes, lettuce, onions and corn from local farms. Larger food manufacturers like Blue Bell, Milo’s, Golden Flake and Buffalo Rock also gave out samples of their products.
Blue Bell Branch Manager Kenny Hall was handing out cups of the company’s ice cream, some of which is manufactured in Sylacauga. Hall said it’s great to be a part of the Alabama community.
“It’s just fun to talk to people about Blue Bell and see them enjoy the product,” Hall said. “This is a cross section of the community, so it’s fun to see different people enjoy it.”
For over an hour, there was a steady line of people waiting for their turn to assemble a tomato sandwich and try the local products.
That group of people, all invitees, included several state lawmakers and representatives from influential agricultural groups like the Alabama Farmers Federation, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and the Alabama Forestry Commission. Republican lieutenant governor nominee John Wahl was also present.
The lunch was operated in partnership with the nonprofit Sweet Grown Alabama. Since 2019, the program has connected consumers with products grown from start to finish in the state.
Sweet Grown Alabama also hosted a small, pop-up farmers’ market outside the lunch.
Melissa Palmer, who was selling her pepper jellies at the market, has been a part of the program since its inception. Palmer, who operates Palmer Farm in Eclectic, said that being a part of the program has helped her customers know that all of her products are locally grown.
“Whenever Sweet Ground Alabama invites us to come, then it shows people what all you can grow in Alabama,” she said. “I grow all of my peppers for my pepper jellies.”
For more information about where to purchase local products, visit sweetgrownalabama.org.