TOMATOES - HEIRLOOM & SLICING

We put tons of time into growing tomatoes. It is, without a doubt, the crop that requires the most maintenance. They are planted in our biggest high tunnels, require weekly pruning and trellising, and are harvested with a gentle touch and a trained eye. Tomatoes are the most sought after veggie at the farmers market, and for a good reason. Because tomatoes are so fragile, they don’t transport well when ripe. Most commercial tomatoes that are shipped from other parts of the world are harvested green and loaded into trucks that emit ethylene gas (the same gas that onions produce) so that they turn red. This artificial ripening seriously compromises flavor and nutrition.

STORAGE: Tomatoes taste best when they are stored out of the fridge. Depending on their ripeness, they will last about 1-2 weeks.

PRESERVATION: Tomatoes are one of the best crops to preserve, and they have been being canned for decades. There is nothing like opening a quart of garden tomatoes in the middle of winter to add to a sauce, chili, or soup. To extend the harvest, freeze whole or can.