Locally Grown: Small Tomato Time

It's tomato season again and the small varieties are showing up first. Small tomatoes are concentrated in flavor, slightly sweet and grow in mouth-size portions ideal for summertime snacking. Restaurant chefs seem to like the new varieties of small tomatoes too, so, pay attention to your salad, the usual cherry tomato may be missing.

Once upon a time cherry tomatoes were the only bite-size tomatoes around. Not to "bad mouth" the cherry tomato, but, new and exciting small tomatoes are competing for space on the plate. One trip to the farmers' market will reveal a whole host of wonderful mini-tomatoes available to shoppers in a wide range of colors, shapes, sizes, textures and flavors. There are also several new varieties of cherry tomatoes such as Sweet 100 and Red Robin.

Within the small tomato category, the first name of the tomato is usually an indication of shape and size rather than flavor. The largest of the small tomato family have names like plum, ping pong, and pear while wee-tiny ones are called grape, wild cherry and currant. Each small tomato has it's own juiciness, flavor and texture so try as many as possible and purchase several different kinds.

Green grape tomatoes are not pretty but they are deliciously sweet and green with a yellow glow when ripe. Pear tomatoes and currant tomatoes are the smallest and they come in both red and yellow varieties. Sungolds are grape-size, bright orange tomatoes with a juicy, sweet and delicious texture. Gold nuggets are bright yellow, sweet and very tropical-fruitlike in flavor.

Another distinction with small tomatoes is they are almost always eaten fresh or just slightly cooked. For grilling, skewer a row together leaving space between each tomato and baste with a flavorful oil then grill for 5 to 7 minutes. Grilled small tomatoes can be mixed with salad greens or served as a side dish. Cut in half or quartered, small tomatoes are great sautèed or tossed with fresh herbs to make a quick summer salad.

Whatever you decide to do with your purchase of small tomatoes, keep it simple. Like large tomatoes, small varieties should be stored on the counter at room temperature until fully ripe and ready to eat.

Refrigerator temperatures destroy both flavor and texture of any variety of tomatoes. Contrary to popular belief, a sunny window sill does not hasten or improve the ripening process of tomatoes.

Tomatoes are naturally sweet, high in vitamin C, rich in beta carotene and lycopene (two disease fighting agents), low in sodium, and cheap at this time of year. So, stock up on tomatoes and enjoy them while they last.

August 2000
EPA Ends Over-the-Counter Sale of Dursban | Root Rot | Now Is the Time for Overseeding | Asian Longhorned Beetle War | Lawn Care Calendar | Bug Bites: Late Summer Tree Insects | Cybergarden Sites | Hort Shorts | Hort Tips | Locally Grown: Small Tomato Time | We All Scream for Ice Cream | The Herb Garden: Drying Herbs | Health & Household Tips | Did You Know?

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