World Tomato Society

[habitat_gardener]

FYI.

I was at the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show last week and saw something about the World Tomato Society at Cynthia Sandberg's booth (Love Apple Farms). I looked it up, and it looks like it's an effort to monetize (hate that word) OCTD*.
I can't imagine it can approach the breadth and depth of expertise and sharing available here at Tomatoville, but there's not much to look at yet.

Doesn't look like it will offer anything to rival Tomatoville and Tatiana's Tomatobase.
-- an "ask the experts" page
-- a database of 5K varieties (but with very minimal info)
-- monthly webinar (we have Craig's Dense Planting videos)
-- recipes by a "star chef" (we have brokenbar's tomato-drying recipes etc.)

The website says it's open to the general public before May 1, and then it will be closed to all but dues-payers. So if you're tempted by the name, be sure to take a look before May 1. Or look at the website for Love Apple Farms to get an idea of the approach to tomato growing.

* for anyone who hasn't been reading all the threads, that's obsessive compulsive tomato disorder/delight. (how can it be a disorder?)

[LDx4]

I received an email from Love Apple Farms announcing this today. And at dues of $39/year, it's not cheap! It just makes me appreciate even more all the knowledge that is given so freely here at Tville (and Mischka's sponsorship of the website) and also Tatiana's wonderful comprehensive database.

Lyn

[carolyn137]

I know Cynthia and have for many years and as the years progress she's become more and more aggresive in marketing herself. Nothing wrong with that per se, but it has surprised me a bit.

Quite a few years ago she was going to travel East with her son who wanted to go to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, and she planned to stop here to visit.

Right now I can't even remember if she made the trip.

I don't know how many would pony up the money to join, perhaps those in CA, and I say that b'c I don't remember too many folks outside of CA saying the bought seeds from her. Plants locally, yes.

And yes,I do know where she got a lot of her new varieties from, at least has in the past.

http://www.growbetterveggies.com/

It looks like she's stopped selling seeds, only plants locally and has concentrated on other activities and workshops, etc. And yes, a picture of the World Tomato thing, but I didn't click on that.

She would still have to buy seeds of some newer varieties to raise plants for sale, though.

Carolyn