A local pick your own farm has an event every Labor Day weekend where people can come and pick Roma tomatoes for 25 cents a pound. I've done this event three times (I call it Rompalooza), each time picking more tomatoes.
The first year my mother and I picked 30 lbs and made red sauce, which I froze. Last year I picked 62 lbs of Romas and canned 18 jars of red sauce and whole tomatoes. This year, with the help of my mom and a friend, I picked 79 lbs and canned 44 jars of red sauce, salsa and whole tomatoes. That, I think, is my limit. We did three five hour canning sessions over the long weekend and I was pretty much sick of tomatoes by the end of it.
Ah, but come winter time, it will be such a treat to open a jar and inhale the summery goodness of rich, ripe Romas! They will be a delightful addition to pasta, to stews, to pizzas and to chips. I've given away a few jars and love to be able to say, "I picked and canned these, I hope you enjoy them".
Pick your own at Underwood Farms: http://www.underwoodfamilyfarms.com/
A great article on Romapalooza: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/sep/02/hundreds-pick-their-own-tomatoes-in-moorpark/
A yummy canned salsa recipe: http://www.countryhomecanning.com/Salsa_Canning_Recipe.html
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