2009 marks the 100th birthday of Heinz Ketchup in Canada. Let’s celebrate by baking the Great Canadian Heinz Ketchup Cake, shall we?

When I first came across this ketchup cake recipe, which has turned up in newspapers across Canada this week, I was afraid it was some weird Canadian food obsession, like wine gums or seal flipper pie.

But no, the Great Canadian ketchup cake seems to have been dreamed up by Heinz’ PR people, who claim that this carrot cake-like confection is “unexpectedly red, perfectly spiced, and totally delicious.” Unexpectedly red — yes, that should move a lot more ketchup.

Not that Heinz necessarily needs to sell more ketchup in Canada. The company reports that Canada is the world’s second largest per-capita consumer of ketchup, after (at least according to Heinz) Finland!

Although Heinz first began producing ketchup in the U.S. back in 1876, its first plant in Canada didn’t open until 1909 in the southwestern Ontario town of Leamington, which now bills itself as Canada’s Tomato Capital.

If you happen to be in Leamington in August, you can check out the town’s claim to tomato supremacy at the Leamington Tomato Festival. This year’s event, which includes the ever-popular Tomato Stomp, runs from August 12-16, 2009.

Photo courtesy of Heinz Canada.