Mantua – On July 27th at 10:30 in the morning the Farmer’s Market held a Fresh Fruit Pie Contest. Only fruit ripe in July could be used to make a pie. The pie filling and crust had to be made from scratch. There were two categories: the Best Tasting pie, and the Best Looking pie. The following celebrities were invited to help judge the pies; they were Jody Fiala owner of Jakes Restaurant, Brook Poloskey owner of Poloskey’s Butcher Shop, and Virginia Goodell of Goodell Farms. Besides the three celebrity judges, all those present at the market were also invited to judge the pies as the People’s Choice, (except if you entered a pie). You could enter as many pies as you wanted.
Eleven world-class pies were entered on the rainy Saturday morning as the 18 judges worked around the pie table under a pop-up tent trying to stay dry and judge pies.
Free coffee helped to wash down the pie and warm the judges a little on the damp morning. Judging was not an easy task, as each pie was given a rating of 1-10 on taste, and appearance. In the end there were two Grand Prize winners each with 181 points.
The Grand Prize winners pictured from left to right are Maureen Balletine who entered an apple pie, and Patsy Reid who entered a black raspberry pie.
The winner of the Judges Choice: Best Tasting pie was: 1st-Patsy Reid, 2nd-Maureen Ballentine, 3rd-Michelle Stuck. Best Looking pie was:1st-Maureen Ballentine, 2nd-Patsy Reid, Shirley Farris, Michele Stuck, 3rd-Michele Stuck.
The winner of the Peoples Choice: Best Tasting pie was: 1st-Patsy Reid, 2nd-Patsy Reid, 3rd-Dolores LaRoque. Best Looking pie was: 1st-Theresa Surgeon, 2nd-Maureen Ballentine, 3rd-Patsy Reid, Dean Olson.
We thank the judges who endured the rain and enjoyed fresh pie for breakfast. Mark your calendars for October 4th the next Pie Contest “any fruit or vegetable of 2013”.
The market will have a Tomato Tasting Contest on August 24th, anyone may bring your homegrown tomatoe’s to be judged in several categories, free to enter, watch for details. The market is open every Saturday 9-12:30. It specializes in heirloom vegetables, from scratch baked goods, and much more. For information call:330-351-3035.
