Another easy cross-off on the Omnivore's Hundred--heirloom tomatoes.
There are different definitions of an heirloom tomato.
"One school of thought places an age or date point on the cultivars. For instance, one school says that the seeds must be over 100 years old, others 50 years, and others prefer the date of 1945 which marks the end of World War II and roughly the beginning of widespread hybrid use by growers and seed companies or industrial agriculture. It was in the 1970s that hybrid seeds began to proliferate in the commercial seed trade.
"Another way of defining heirloom cultivars is to use the definition of the word "heirloom" in its truest sense. Under this interpretation, a true heirloom is a cultivar that has been nurtured, selected, and handed down from one family member to another for many generations." (Via.)
I don't know how the Guy With the Cool Tomatoes at the farmer's market defines his, but however it is they're good. More than anything, I love the surprise--even if you get two that look alike, the flavor is always unique--sometimes smoky, sometimes salty, sometimes light, sometimes tangy.
And always perfect for a BLT with egg and avocado. We got these in early September, so they were among the last really good summer tomatoes for the season....
To see how I'm progressing on the Omnivore's Hundred, click here.
