Great Tomato Toss canceled

FAIRFIELD, Calif. -- The first Great Tomato Toss has gone to seed.

Appliance manufacturer Maytag pulled its support for the Aug. 13 event, which was to feature hundreds of Fairfield residents hurling tomatoes at each other. Maytag planned to film the event to advertise a new washing machine.

Organizers had hoped the 15-minute event would juice up the annual Tomato Festival in this town about an hour south of Sacramento. The festival will go on, but probably without any tossed fruit.

"We're disappointed, but hopefully they'll come back and do it here sometime in the future," said festival promoter Gary Dyas.

Maytag declined to say why the event was called off.

The company is trying to sort out the details of a takeover bid by rival Whirlpool, which was announced last month.