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Why are Hanover County tomatoes famous?
July 21, 2026
Farmers and experts say the secret is rooted in both tradition and science.
Every July, thousands of people descend on Pole Green Park in Hanover County for an event that celebrates a fruit so beloved that locals rarely feel the need to explain its reputation.
Hanover tomatoes have become one of the commonwealth’s most recognizable agricultural products at roadside stands, on seasonal menus and among generations of Virginians who insist they simply taste better than tomatoes grown anywhere else.
The annual Hanover Tomato Festival has helped cement that reputation since it began in the 1970s as a fundraiser for the Hanover County Volunteer Fire Department.
The event has grown into one of Central Virginia’s largest summer festivals, drawing out-of-state visitors — and even former presidents — eager to sample fresh heirlooms, beefsteaks and tomato-centric recipes.
Beneath the celebration lies a question that has lingered in the minds of outsiders and even some locals: What actually makes Hanover tomatoes so special?
Ashland Supervisor Faye Prichard said it’s the variety that sets Hanover tomatoes apart from the rest.
“Tomatoes are tomatoes, but Hanover tomatoes have a little bit more depth, a little bit more signature flavor,” Prichard told VPM News. “Especially those heirloom tomatoes. Those are the ones, and we’ve got them on every farm stand in Hanover. The best ones are in my backyard.”
Read the full story on the famous Hanover Tomato via VPM News >
