By Sara Gomez, March 24, 2026
More than 25,000 tomatoes were sold March 14-15 during Tomatozania at the Kellogg Ranch, one of the university’s largest annual plant sales, bringing hundreds of families on campus to shop for the spring season.
The farm store’s customers loaded up shopping carts with fresh tomatoes, whether it was a gift to a loved one or a plant to keep inside a dorm. Addi Knight, a plant science student, carried a box of plants during the event.
“I chose a couple for my grandpa that I’m seeing this weekend, these are his favorites,” Knight said. “I also got a couple small ones that I can grow in my dorm room.”
Tomatozania is more than just a plant sale to customers. Families have been attending the event for more than a decade, making it a tradition within the Cal Poly Pomona community.
“I’ve seen some kids grow up from three years old to nine,” said greenhouse and nursery manager Kelsey Swayze. “It’s really sweet to watch their families grow.”
This year’s event was also a learning experience for agribusiness students who work at the nursery through a 40-hour micro-internship program. Each student was assigned three different kinds of tomatoes they needed to research and come up with a sales pitch for customers. Each tomato plant had its own description attached to it, which featured the sales pitch students created during their internship.
“It’s very fun for tomato people to talk to tomato people,” Swayze said.
The tomato sale took place on the side of the Farm Store under white tents. Agriculture student volunteers wore green shirts and attended to customers.
Tomaotozania brings awareness to one of the many resources students have on campus.
“I have a lot of friends who tell me I’ve never seen the animals once, and all the three years I’ve been here but you can come to the petting farm and get hands-on experience with them,” Ramirez said.
The event also offered activities for families such as the petting zoo, where guests could feed and interact with the farm animals for $15.
For Charlotte Ramirez, an animal science pre-veterinarian student, it was an opportunity for children and families to get familiar with the farm animals.
“I think it helps build empathy, and animals can also relieve stress,” Ramirez said.
Vendors also sold products, including soaps made from goat milk, tomato-infused candles and fresh honey combs.
Agriculture students had their own booth by the entrance of the event providing popcorn and selling fresh produce. From cabbage to clementines for just a dollar, some CPP students shopped for their groceries.
Once the sun went down, the farm store began to close empty tables and carts filled with tomatoes.
The next vegetable on sale will be April 25th, Pepperzania, the sale of sweets and hot peppers, according to Cal Poly Pomona Nursey.
