Ilmaveere farm freezes surplus tomatoes for winter dishes

Ilmaveere farm has harvested a strong tomato crop and is freezing some of its surplus for use in winter dishes, ERR reported. The farm planted 160 tomato plants in two large greenhouses this spring.

Farm owner Lauri Mäesepp said cook Merino Lastik grilled the tomatoes to preserve their flavour before putting them in the freezer. They can later be grated over dishes, he said.

Farm owner Lenna Kuurmaa said all the tomatoes are taken to the cook at the Ilmaveere restaurant, where they are used in dishes and will now also be preserved. There are too many tomatoes to eat fresh, she said.

Mäesepp said the farm works hard because it has a large supply of tomatoes. He said the plants need fertilising, thinning and sufficient sunlight to produce a good harvest. Kuurmaa added that rich soil and pruning at the right time were especially important.

Mäesepp, who is also an actor, said he is still allowed to perform a few times a year in the play Testosteron at Endla Theatre. He said he hopes to focus more on acting after spending perhaps one more year managing things at the farm.