I Might Have Too Many Tomatoes

[Imagebuffet]

I love to garden, but I'm not very good at it. I've never had anything that could rightly be called a harvest in all the years that I've attempted it. This year, I think, will be different. I invested hundreds of dollars into improving the soil and I studied how to raise some of the crops I'm growing. Now that I'm unemployed, I have virtually all day and night to tend to my plants.

I had the bright idea of raising surplus food that I could sell. After I got a good amount of plants growing, I found out that the City of Plano won't allow me to sell produce that I raise at home. They claim that either it would be a health risk (they don't inspect non-agricultural land for farming quality) or a traffic nuisance (as if I alone would ever generate as much traffic as my neighbors with their 5+ cars and drivers per household). So, I'm growing enough plants to feed a regiment, but now it looks like I'm going to be stuck with it. I have about 25 tomato plants, besides all the other stuff I'm growing.

Now what should I do? I am unemployed and could use the money and I sure don't need hundreds of pounds of tomatoes.

[Truckman]

Turn them into pizza and invite us over for a party......Ben

[Imagebuffet]

Man, I would *love* to have a party! Only, my house is in no condition for it. Of course, we could all just use the back yard. But, I think I need to get a job, first.

[Truckman]

Originally Posted by Imagebuffet

But, I think I need to get a job, first.

And some clothes......Ben

[Imagebuffet]

Originally Posted by Truckman

And some clothes......Ben

Depends on the party, I guess.

[Redneck]

Don't you have a "farmers market" in your area?
We used to have one once a week where people could sell all their produce, pets, eggs, baked goods, wild hogs, farm animals etc., no questions asked.

[Imagebuffet]

Originally Posted by Redneck

Don't you have a "farmers market" in your area?
We used to have one once a week where people could sell all their produce, pets, eggs, baked goods, wild hogs, farm animals etc., no questions asked.

Yes, I know of a farmer's market nearby. I understand the statement the Health Department gave me to mean that I cannot sell my tomatoes at all, to anyone, unless I grow my tomatoes in an agriculture-zoned plot. My land is zoned residential, so I am not allowed to sell any produce from it.

[wandrson]

Well, you might want to consider getting a pressure canner and canning tomatoes, sauce, marinara, etc...

It takes about 25 lbs of tomatoes to make a couple (3-4) quarts of sauce or marinara. And properly canned it can last for years. Good stuff to have in the pantry.

-Walt

[Toad]

Originally Posted by wandrson

Well, you might want to consider getting a pressure canner and canning tomatoes, sauce, marinara, etc...

It takes about 25 lbs of tomatoes to make a couple (3-4) quarts of sauce or marinara. And properly canned it can last for years. Good stuff to have in the pantry.

-Walt

Will Plano let you sell the tomatoes after canning them?

Make Salsa.

[texkam]

I understand the statement the Health Department gave me to mean that I cannot sell my tomatoes at all, to anyone, unless I grow my tomatoes in an agriculture-zoned plot.

Is the HD City of Plano, Collin Co. or State of TX? If it's just a local thing sell elsewhere. Marfa TX has an outdoor market where you grow it/make it and sell it, but that's a long way to go.

[ka5txl]

I would sell them at the farmers market, how is the HD going to know where you grew them? Could have grown them at your weekend lake home.

[shamrock]

Can them, smoke them, sun dry them. Preserved tomatoes keep really well, and add a lot of flavor to sauces and soups/chilis in the middle of winter when the plants are long gone.

Get creative with your canning and make an entry into the state fair. Take some photos of the process and enter those, too. :D

If your neighbors are like mine, they might slip you a few dollars in exchange for your lovely, organic produce without your setting up an "official" fruit stand or market. I had to keep turning down cash last year.

[Some Idiot]

I would buy a sack of tomatoes from you, let me know when they are ready

[Imagebuffet]

Originally Posted by texkam

Is the HD City of Plano, Collin Co. or State of TX? If it's just a local thing sell elsewhere. Marfa TX has an outdoor market where you grow it/make it and sell it, but that's a long way to go.

The HD is the City of Plano. Actually, I'm not sure that it is just the HD, but maybe also Zoning. The main concern seems to be additional traffic to my street. However, he did say that a home-based photography business would not be a problem. He also said that the problem with growing tomatoes for sale residentially is the HD doesn't inspect residences for produce.

Prerequisites of an entrepreneur are persistence and creativity.

Some ideas that I've had:

1) Tomatoes are free, but the bag containing them is $5 or $10.
2) Mail order tomatoes; the City hasn't complained about UPS or FedEx making deliveries on my street, yet.
3) Tomato Party; Guests donate to host, and get a bag of free tomatoes.

In addition to tomatoes, I'm anticipated a lot of peppers. Everything else that I've planted is coming up in modest-to-no amounts.

[dmcantrell]

What about donating the tomatoes to a food shelter and taking the tax deduction.