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General Information
The tomato genus is thought to have originated in the South American Andes, with evidence indicating that it was domesticated in Mexico. The tomato was brought from Europe to Asia in the 17th century, and afterwards to the United States, Africa, and the Middle East. Tomatoes were planted in Europe as beautiful plants for centuries before Europeans sought to consume the round red fruits. The tomato is one of the world’s most significant veggies. The fleshy, edible tomato fruit is eaten fresh in salads, cooked in sauces, and used to flavor soups and meat or fish meals. Puree, juice, ketchup, and canned tomatoes are all popular processed versions.
Heirloom tomatoes are treasured for their taste and historical significance. Heirloom tomatoes come in hundreds of varieties. Brandywines, Green Zebras, Cherokee Purple, Moskovich, Black Krim, and more types are grown by our growers. The term heirloom signifies that the tomato variety is open-pollinated and dates back to 1940. Heirlooms also cannot be hybrid tomatoes, meaning plants which are cross-pollinated to try to encourage or breed for specific traits, such as disease resistance or longer shelf life. Since heritage tomatoes are not cross-pollinated, their fruits are frequently significantly more fragile. They blemish and degrade far faster than their hybrid cousins, but their taste is unrivaled! So be delicate with your wonderful treasures and eat them as soon as you get your portion.
Health Benefits
Lycopene, one of the most potent natural antioxidants, is found in heirloom tomatoes. Lycopene has also been shown to protect the skin from harmful UV rays. Lycopene may also assist persons with diabetes reduce their oxidative stress.
Storing & Cooking Information
Handling: To eat raw, remove stem, wash, and slice.
Storing: Tomatoes may be kept at room temperature for up to a week and longer if they are still maturing. Tomatoes that are not quite ripe will continue to mature at 60-75 degrees away from the sun. Do not keep whole tomatoes in the refrigerator; only store tomatoes that have been chopped in the fridge.
Freezing: Tomatoes should not be blanched. Wash and chop into the proper sizes for casseroles or soups. Cook down tomatoes and strain through a strainer to make a puree. Allow 12 inches of headroom. Freeze after sealing. Fresh salad usage is not advised since the flesh is punctured by ice crystals and deflates when defrosted.
Related Questions
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What is so special about heirloom tomatoes?
Heirlooms are open-pollinated which means they are pollinated out in the wide open as nature intended. There is no purposeful interference from bees, insects, birds, or the wind. Heirlooms are grown from saved seeds and are at least 50 years old, and some can be a 100+ years old.
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Are heirloom tomatoes healthier than regular tomatoes?
Heirlooms are picked at the peak of ripeness, which gives them greater vitamin content. The rainbow of colors represents the variety of antioxidants that help preserve our cells from aging.
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What are heirloom tomatoes best for?
Try them in salads like this Rosemary Heirloom Tomato Salad or this Mozzarella and Basil Heirloom Tomato Salad. Instead, substitute them with ordinary tomatoes in tomato pie or burrata salad. They shine in a BLT, but they may also be eaten simply sliced with salt and pepper.
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Are heirloom tomatoes worth it?
Heirloom tomatoes are cultivated from seeds handed down through generations and are said to be superior than conventional tomatoes. They’re often more expensive than regular tomatoes, but some people say they’re worth the price because of their superior flavor.
