Find out who won the apple peeling contest
Organizer hopeful event raised more than $45,000 for Community Living
Preparations for the celebrity peeling contest varied widely among the contestants Saturday on stage at the Ruthven Apple Festival.
County Warden and Lakeshore Mayor Tom Bain noted he had endured some “rigorous training for a week,” which involved “eating a piece of apple pie every morning for breakfast.”
Tracey Ramsey, MP for Essex, told a crowd of 200 or so that while she’s “eaten lots of apples” she’d actually never peeled one before.
Defending 2015 champion Nelson Santos, Kingsville’s mayor, explained how he’d been practising by peeling pears because that’s the preferred fruit choice of his one-year-old twins Jaxson and Madelyn.
Despite trying to throw off the competition by feigning a sore wrist in a recent golf game, Leamington Mayor John Paterson won the 2016 title with an impressive continuous peel that measured three feet in length.
The 37th annual festival enjoyed perfect fall weather with comfortable temperatures and sunny skies over the weekend.
That had Tony DeSantis, one of the event’s organizers, hopeful that proceeds for the two-day event would surpass last year’s total of $45,000.
All proceeds go to Community Living Essex County, an organization that supports 650 people with intellectual disabilities.
“This is our premier event,” said DeSantis, a manager with Community Living.
Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens hosted the festival which featured a farmer’s market, craft fair, entertainment and a car show.
DeSantis noted all the entertainers donated their time and talents.
Matt Baird and his family took the short drive over from Leamington Saturday.
“I’ve come for the last five or six years,” Baird said.
“Just for the food and the people.”
His 16-month-old daughter Evelyn was making her first appearance at the annual ode to apples.
“She’s already had a piece of apple pie and ice cream and she really enjoyed it,” Baird said.