How The Taste Of Tomatoes Went Bad . . .

[digitS']

(And Kept On Going [click]).

I am not sure if I'm buying much of this . . . It seems to me that we are being offered this notion that science will save us from bad tomatoes. The food industry is on it - it is just a matter of time and we will reap the benefits.

It looks like an admission that the food industry was the responsible party for the loss of flavor in the modern, soopermarket tomato. Now, they will fix it. Tinkering around with the genetics may bring some of the flavor back or, it may not. One thing -- the need of the food industry to harvest very early for handling & shipping purposes won't change since a ripe tomato isn't what they want at the get-go. So, that rock-hard tomato won't ripen properly.

Secondly, if it is mostly just sugars where this elusive flavor resides - the modern cherries have plenty. I can't remember seeing one with green shoulders. Further, I have read that we just can't expect the beefsteaks to have the sugar that a cherry has. They would explode while ripening! Something about the pulp to surface skin ratio, or something like that .

Anyway . . . I like some of the modern hybrid tomatoes. But then, I kind of like the flavor of most any tomato. Of course, it has to have some . . . flavor, that is .

Steve

 

[momofdrew]

exactly!!!!

 

[baymule]

The tomatoes at the grocery store don't even look good! IMPOSTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[hoodat]

I've noticed a disturbing trend. Lately the organic tomatos available in big markets are the same varieties grown by big ag; just grown using organic methods. I don't think they get it. When I buy an organic tomato I want an heirloom not a commercial variety.

 

[ninnymary]

hoodat, I think you have something there. Alot of organic fruits that I buy at the supermarkets taste terrible! I finally stopped buying strawberries because they were so sour. Raspberries and blackberries are sour also.

Mary

 

[thistlebloom]

The last few times I've been at the local Super1 they have offered a small amount of an heirloom tomato. Or should I say a small group of heirloom tomatoes. I don't know the variety, but they look similar to a Costuloto Genovese. I bought one to try and boy, it was tasty! It's a hot house grown tomato, so I wondered if it was local. It was obviously not picked green.
And it wasn't ridiculously priced either.

 

[swampducks]

I don't know the why's and wherefore's of what happened to get those tasteless grocery toms but when I have to buy from the store if I can't get the grape tomatoes (man those are pricey sometimes!) I opt for the romas. They seem to have the best taste of the bunch there.

So looking forward to mine, still got a few weeks, only just have some flowers starting to close up after fertilizing....

 

[sparkles2307]

I only buy things I can't get locally like grapes and pineapple at the grocery store, otherwise I try to grow my own or pick it wild/local.

I love how putting those tiny tomato seeds in pots grows big, beautiful plants. I am hoping to bring one or two in in big pots this year and keep them growing all winter. I'd be one happy camper even if they don't produce.

 

[Dave2000]

Grocery store tomatoes are like a whole different fruit that looks like a tomato but isn't really interchangeable with one.

 

[grow_my_own]

Ate our first tomato of the season from our garden yesterday. I had forgotten how much better they are than store bought. Nothing like fresh, sweet, yummy t'maters.