WARREN, Ark. — The year’s first box of tomatoes was delivered a week earlier than last year to the Bradley County Extension Office, a tradition for about 50 years and a harbinger of the season to come.The first box — all Cherokee Purple tomatoes — was delivered May 19 by Westin Clanton, son of Randy Clanton Jr. and Skye Clanton, owners of Clanton Farms in Hermitage.The Clanton family — five generations’ worth — has been farming since the 1940s and grows some 500 acres of tomatoes and other produce, including cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini, cabbage and watermelons. The family also grows other tomato varieties, including Bradley, Ramblers, Roadsters and Pony Express.In 2024, the first box of tomatoes — all Roadster variety — was delivered Memorial Day weekend by Brad Harrod Farms & Hermit Corner Produce.Despite rain and cool temperatures, “the season is running a little bit earlier than usual,” said John Gavin, Bradley County extension staff chair for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “We've really had some good-looking plants and the plants are running about a week ahead of schedule.”Gavin said Arkansans looking for state-grown tomatoes can expect to see some in the week following Memorial Day.“Once that first box is out, that’s what encourages farmers to get out and really start looking at their tomatoes,” he said.Hot VarietiesGavin said local farmers were growing a mix of large round fresh market, plum, grape and Roma tomatoes, but there are three varieties that are increasingly popular among growers: Roadster, Rambler and the Thunderbird.Thunderbirds and Ramblers produce flavorful extra-large to jumbo tomatoes, while Roadster plants produce a little smaller extra-large fruit with excellent flavor. Not so common are varieties that produce extremely large fruit.“Our tomatoes are coming down in size a little bit,...
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