What are Heirloom Tomatoes?

Tomato season is upon us! Here at Gotham, we source great tomatoes year-round by using heirloom tomatoes. Now, a lot of us have heard of heirloom tomatoes—and maybe even seen some multi-colored, funky-shaped specimens in the grocery store—but don’t know what it’s all about. Hey, no shame in that. We’re here to educate!

What does heirloom mean?

Heirlooms are things that are passed down from generation to generation. Heirloom crops, including tomatoes, refer to the process of saving and replanting seeds from season to season. This way, farmers select out the biggest and most beautiful fruit—the ones with superior taste and sublime juiciness. This traditional kind of breeding creates varieties and cultivars of tomato that bring a vibrant touch to your kitchen: black, yellow, purple, green, and red colors are common in heirloom-bred tomatoes. Pick whichever shape and color appeals to you from the wild display at your grocer or market, but be wary—not all tomatoes marked “heirloom” truly are passed down from farmer to farmer. We’d say the best tomatoes come from the farmers market!

Why eat heirloom tomatoes?

Non-commercially produced produce is an important aspect of sustainable agriculture. The important legacy of open pollination (AKA letting crops cross with each other without human intervention) creates a rich genetic resource that is essential to keeping farms secure. Monoculture, or the cultivation of a single variety, is dangerous when disease strikes. And the mass-produced hybrids are bland, too. We all know the world is better with a little diversity in it! Even though heirloom tomatoes don’t often last as long as hybrids you find in the supermarket, the taste is worth it. We believe tomatoes are something you can’t skimp on. With their umami flavor and exquisite texture, they add deep deliciousness to any dish—sandwich, pizza, or salad alike.

Did you know?

Tomatoes have the scientific name of Solanum lycopersicum and are part of the nightshade family. These botanical delights originated in South America, and weren’t part of European cuisine until the 1500’s. Imagine that—Italy without red sauce or caprese, Spain without gazpacho or pan con tomate, and Greece without their classic chopped salad! Over the centuries since, the world has accepted and perfected heirloom tomato-growing, and we can find multi-colored varieties like Green Zebra, Marglobe, Brandywine, Banana legs, Lollypop, and Chocolate Cherry in our gardens and kitchens. Tomatoes are truly a gift from the heavens above, no joke.