One of the saddest festival times was the day the producer of the Carmel Tomato Festival announced he was calling it quits. That was a few years ago and good to his word, he's only growing and selling tomato plants and products now. But some good news arrived this year when Los Banos in the Central California Valley decided to "carry the torch" with plans to produce a tomato festival in the fall 2011. It seems fitting that an area where tomato crops come out tops would organize such a celebration.

Los Banos Tomato Festival is planned for Oct. 8 -9, 2011. Great news for tomato lovers everywhere! While Fresno County is the top producer of tomatoes, Los Banos in Merced County grows them exceedingly well, and tomatoes rank as one of that county's top 10 crops.

Like the upcoming 2o11 Avocado Festival in Fallbrook, Strawberry Festivals in Garden Grove, Arroyo Grande and Oxnard, and Garlic Festival in Gilroy, you'll discover that tomatoes are works of art when placed in the hands of creative, top flight chefs.