The Green Zebra tomato caused both fits and smiles at the Lawrence Downtown Farmers Market on Saturday morning.

“I will avoid those in the future,” said Sarah Rooney, Lawrence.

But for Claire Wismer, Baldwin City, it was a favorite.

The two joined hundreds of tomato lovers who lined up to have a turn at sampling 30 varieties during the market’s first-ever tomato-tasting event.

Everyone had a preference.

“Yellow Pear, that’s awesome,” said Annette Ritchie, Lawrence. “I wonder if they’d noticed if the whole plate was missing!”

“Arkansas Traveler,” said Lisa Demuth, Eudora.

“Sun Gold,” said Kathy Wismer, Baldwin City.

“Jet Star,” said Riese Wismer, her 8-year-old daughter.

Other samples included cherry, Giant Belgium, Roma, Juliet, Black Krim, Tigerella, White Tomesol, Kellogg’s Breakfast, San Marzano, Purple Cherry and Nebraska Wedding.

“They all taste like tomatoes, but they are different,” Rooney said.

The tasting was put together because many unique tomatoes, known as heirlooms, are expensive, said Mercedes Taylor-Puckett, market coordinator.

“People might not be willing to buy them, if they haven’t tried them,” she said.

In conjunction with the tomato tasting, a contest was held to find the biggest and ugliest tomato.

Marilyn Spencer, Lawrence, won the ugliest tomato portion, with a large tomato that had a happy face drawn on it, surrounded by four smaller tomatoes with deformed, or rotten, mouths.

Spring Creek Farms, Baldwin City, had the largest tomato at the market; it was just under two pounds.