Heirloom tomatoes - what’s the hype?

Have you noticed these delightfully odd tomatoes in your grocery yet?  I discovered these beauties last year and have become a faithful purchaser ever since.  Heirloom tomatoes have gained popularity recently, but why?  Where did they come from?

That’s a debatable subject as the definition of what makes a “heirloom” tomato is not agreed upon yet.  Some say it must be a seed that has a 100 year legacy, others say fifty years is enough to get the stamp of approval.  There are some who argue that the tomato comes from the end of World War Two.  And still others that define the seeds as ones which have been passed down through the family for generations.

None of those definitions interest me however as much as that fact that it is generally agreed that no genetically modified organisms can be considered heirloom cultivars.  That says a great deal about why these tomatoes taste better than other varieties.  And that fact that people are out there arguing about the bloodline of this tomato means somebody gives a crap about quality!

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