sentences:  Begun in 1956, the festival is one of Arkansas' longest-running annual community festivals.Organized by the Bradley County Chamber of Commerce, the festival celebrates the South Arkansas Vine Ripe Pink Tomato, a special variety of tomato which holds the distinction of being Arkansas' state fruit and state vegetable.The festival has a tradition of being well-planned, with such activities as tomato-eating contests and street dances, the atmosphere of which benefit greatly from the layout of broad brick-paved streets around the courthouse square.