Organizers discuss the return of the Hanover Tomato Festival

HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Organizers from the Hanover Tomato Festival visited the Good Morning Richmond crew this morning to discuss the event's upcoming return.

8News anchors Delaney Hall and Autumn Childress were joined by Director of Hanover County Parks & Recreation, Aaron Reidmiller, and Deputy Director, Marcy Durrer, to talk about all the event's history.

"In 1978, it was a fundraiser for the Black Creek Volunteer Fire Department," Reidmiller explained. "And it just grew and grew and grew and became something the community loved and supported. It eventually outgrew its space and had to move to an elementary school. It outgrew that space, and then, thankfully, with Pole Green Park being as large as it is, it was a great venue -- and has continued to be a great venue for over 20 years now."

Durrer went on to explain all the different kinds of vendors that will be taking part in this year's festival, including fruit and produce sellers, arts and craft/handmade artisans, and of course tomatoes.

"They're delicious! They are the most delicious tomatoes," Durrer said, explaining what makes the county's product unique. "We hear all the time, it's because of the soil -- that is special in Hanover. And it is called, 'the Hanover Tomato.'"

The festival will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, July 11, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 12, at Pole Green Park. For more information on the event, visit the county's website.