Intended to be brought back for one year in 2012, the year of Greenbelt’s 75th anniversary, the Retro Town Fair at the Greenbelt Museum was so popular that it has become an annual event. Exhibitors may show their vegetables, flowers, canned goods and needlework/sewing, but the most popular category this year was baked goods, which took up two tables.
The Fair uses the Danish style of judging, which means each entry is judged on its own merits and as many ribbons can be awarded as the judges see fit. This contrasts with the American system which judges all the entries in a class, allowing for a limited number of awards.
In the baked goods category, entries may be from any era but some bakers do research to find historical recipes. Elliot Merker, a food historian and one of the baked goods judges, pointed out the three historical entries this year. Red velvet cake was first baked during WWI when less chocolate was available and the cakes turned out more red than brown. The appearance continued to change during WWII, depending on ingredients, and the cake continued to change until it became the bright red version known today.
The chocolate sauerkraut cake was a WWII invention when it was difficult to get coconut. The amaretto peach upside-down cake was the final historical entry among the many more familiar sweets.
Kathy Labukas, one of the two judges for flowers, vegetables and canned goods, said if she could change one thing she would have canned goods exhibitors label their jars with what the product is and the date it was canned.
Two beautiful quilts were among the needlework/sewing projects. Other crafts included homegrown loofahs with crocheted edges, ready for use for dishes or in the bath.
It is never too soon to get ready for next year’s Retro Town Fair. Test your recipes, harvest your garden or plan what you’ll grow and can next year, gather your needles, yarn or fabric and prepare to show off your projects during the next Labor Day Festival.
