BOSTON (SHNS) - It is peak tomato season in Massachusetts and the judges came hungry. Lining up dozens of juicy entries, they sniffed, sliced and sampled their way through the annual Massachusetts Tomato Contest that turns the summer bounty into a showcase for local farmers.

The contest, sponsored by the Department of Agricultural Resources, the New England Vegetable and Berry Growers Association, and hosted by the Boston Public Market Association, is part friendly rivalry and part marketing campaign for one of the state’s signature summer crops.

Farmers compete in four categories — slicing, cherry, heirloom and heaviest — with entries scored on flavor, firmness and slicing quality, exterior color and shape. Winners go home with trophies and certificates, but the real prize is bragging r

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