A Colorful Market Table

Cole_Robbie · December 2, 2012

I'm picking out seed to order for an outdoor summer market garden. I was hoping to be able to grow hybrids that have at least decent flavor. I was also wanting to have several colors of tomato to make an eye-catching display at market.

Here are my picks so far. I would love to hear any feedback on them:

Brandymaster - Red, Pink, and maybe yellow. I'm a big fan of Brandywine.

Lemon Boy

"Heirloom Orange F1" - I think it's new: http://www.geneticseed.com/comm_view...t.aspx?ID=3657

Tomande - http://www.geneticseed.com/comm_view...t.aspx?ID=3506

I'll probably have Big Beef as another red, and I'll have Cherokee Purple, too. No one buys the black and purple tomatoes, but they at least attract attention and start conversations when people say "ewww! Those tomatoes over there don't look right."

clkeiper · December 5, 2012

Brandywines take a long time to ripen for me. They are never ready as early as my other varieties. I hardly have any of them on my table before the markets are almost over. So I quit trying to get them for markets and only raise the plants for sale to the gardeners.

Brandymaster is a 70-80 day tomato

Brandywine is closer to 100 days.

Wi-sunflower · December 5, 2012

Frankly you can't go wrong with a colorful display of cherries.

I thought I had a pic of our stand with the tomatoes but couldn't find anything.

We do 1 row of pints / variety and alternate colors depending on what we have that day. We also try to be sure to put the variety name on them too as that helps sell them. When customers invariably ask "which is the sweetest ?" I tell them "everyone's taste is different. Try some samples and see which YOU like". The tasting is what sells them.

Depending on your market those heirloom cherries may open people up to trying the larger heirlooms.

Sure cherry tomatoes are more work to pick. But they get people looking at other kinds of tomatoes. And it's not as hard to have good heirloom cherries as it is to have good looking large heirlooms that people just turn their nose at because they aren't "perfect".

Carol

Sun City Linda · December 5, 2012

I have seeded Tomande two years in a row but always end up giving all the plants away! It sure comes out the gate strong. One of these years I will have to grow one!

Cole_Robbie · December 5, 2012

Thanks for the replies.

The tasting is what sells them.

I agree. With all of the heath code restrictions, it is nearly impossible to offer a tray of cut up samples. But all of those regulations are not applicable if you simply give someone a whole tomato, which of course they're going to eat. Cherries are naturally "sample-sized."

Wi-sunflower · December 5, 2012

Cherries are naturally "sample-sized."

EXACTLY !!!

Carol

Keger · December 5, 2012

We do really well with cherries, really well. And the more colors the better.

NisiNJ · February 10, 2013

Cherry tomatoes:

Sungold is a wildly popular golden color hybrid. People say to let them ripen until they're orange.
I love the sweet taste of Tami G grape. It's a big hybrid plant that produces a lot of cherries.
Black Cherry is an OP that produced well for me, but some other people prefer Chocolate Cherry. Maybe people would change their minds about black tomatoes if they popped a free sample in their mouths.

Just some ideas.

FarmerShawn · February 10, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by NisiNJ

Cherry tomatoes:

Sungold is a wildly popular golden color hybrid. People say to let them ripen until they're orange.
I love the sweet taste of Tami G grape. It's a big hybrid plant that produces a lot of cherries.
Black Cherry is an OP that produced well for me, but some other people prefer Chocolate Cherry. Maybe people would change their minds about black tomatoes if they popped a free sample in their mouths.

Just some ideas.

I second each and every recommendation. I pick them into large containers (along with some green, red, and yellow cherries) and then just offer empty pint boxes so folks can mix and match according to their desires. Some just take the sungolds, but most go ahead and try the variety mix. And it sure makes it easier for me not to have to pre-package them.
Shawn

ScottinAtlanta · February 10, 2013

Here in Atlanta, where I frequent farmer's markets, I see a growing preference for the black tomatoes - particularly Cherokee Purple - and also people seem to love Green Zebra, with its nice stripes. Red Zebra also seemed to be a crowd favorite in summer 2012.

Marcus1 · February 21, 2013

I have good luck with Goliath , large red indeterminate early 65 days, Mountain Fresh +, large red determinate 75 days, and I plant Carolina Gold instead of Lemon Boy, large gold determinate 75 days is a more productive better appearance still low acid ( which I can't stand but custs like). Flavors not as good as some heirlooms but more than decent and they are round and pretty. Pretty sells.

biscgolf · February 21, 2013

i do a lot of cherries for markets as well... all carol's points are spot on- there is also less competition at my markets selling cherries as opposed to large tomatoes.

Cole_Robbie · July 19, 2014

Here was my market table this morning, Artisan/Colored cherry mix, Big Beef, Taxi, and "Heirloom Orange F1." http://i.imgur.com/9faojpu.jpg

nickbolk · July 19, 2014

That's a great little spread you had at your table!

Cole_Robbie · July 19, 2014

Thanks. Customers love my sign that says "Pesticide Free." I point at the stink bug bites as evidence that I am telling the truth

December 2, 2012	#1
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	A Colorful Market Table I'm picking out seed to order for an outdoor summer market garden. I was hoping to be able to grow hybrids that have at least decent flavor. I was also wanting to have several colors of tomato to make an eye-catching display at market. Here are my picks so far. I would love to hear any feedback on them: Brandymaster - Red, Pink, and maybe yellow. I'm a big fan of Brandywine. Lemon Boy "Heirloom Orange F1" - I think it's new: http://www.geneticseed.com/comm_view...t.aspx?ID=3657 Tomande - http://www.geneticseed.com/comm_view...t.aspx?ID=3506 I'll probably have Big Beef as another red, and I'll have Cherokee Purple, too. No one buys the black and purple tomatoes, but they at least attract attention and start conversations when people say "ewww! Those tomatoes over there don't look right."

December 5, 2012	#2
clkeiper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 4,350	Brandywines take a long time to ripen for me. They are never ready as early as my other varieties. I hardly have any of them on my table before the markets are almost over. So I quit trying to get them for markets and only raise the plants for sale to the gardeners. Brandymaster is a 70-80 day tomato Brandywine is closer to 100 days. __________________ carolyn k

December 5, 2012	#3
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	Frankly you can't go wrong with a colorful display of cherries. I thought I had a pic of our stand with the tomatoes but couldn't find anything. We do 1 row of pints / variety and alternate colors depending on what we have that day. We also try to be sure to put the variety name on them too as that helps sell them. When customers invariably ask "which is the sweetest ?" I tell them "everyone's taste is different. Try some samples and see which YOU like". The tasting is what sells them. Depending on your market those heirloom cherries may open people up to trying the larger heirlooms. Sure cherry tomatoes are more work to pick. But they get people looking at other kinds of tomatoes. And it's not as hard to have good heirloom cherries as it is to have good looking large heirlooms that people just turn their nose at because they aren't "perfect". Carol

December 5, 2012	#4
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	I have seeded Tomande two years in a row but always end up giving all the plants away! It sure comes out the gate strong. One of these years I will have to grow one!

December 5, 2012	#7
Keger Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Richmond, TX Posts: 327	We do really well with cherries, really well. And the more colors the better.

February 10, 2013	#8
NisiNJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bordentown NJ Posts: 32	Cherry tomatoes: Sungold is a wildly popular golden color hybrid. People say to let them ripen until they're orange. I love the sweet taste of Tami G grape. It's a big hybrid plant that produces a lot of cherries. Black Cherry is an OP that produced well for me, but some other people prefer Chocolate Cherry. Maybe people would change their minds about black tomatoes if they popped a free sample in their mouths. Just some ideas.

February 10, 2013	#10
ScottinAtlanta Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 2,593	Here in Atlanta, where I frequent farmer's markets, I see a growing preference for the black tomatoes - particularly Cherokee Purple - and also people seem to love Green Zebra, with its nice stripes. Red Zebra also seemed to be a crowd favorite in summer 2012.

February 21, 2013	#11
Marcus1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Colorado Posts: 124	I have good luck with Goliath , large red indeterminate early 65 days, Mountain Fresh +, large red determinate 75 days, and I plant Carolina Gold instead of Lemon Boy, large gold determinate 75 days is a more productive better appearance still low acid ( which I can't stand but custs like). Flavors not as good as some heirlooms but more than decent and they are round and pretty. Pretty sells.

February 21, 2013	#12
biscgolf Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 353	i do a lot of cherries for markets as well... all carol's points are spot on- there is also less competition at my markets selling cherries as opposed to large tomatoes.

July 19, 2014	#13
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Here was my market table this morning, Artisan/Colored cherry mix, Big Beef, Taxi, and "Heirloom Orange F1." http://i.imgur.com/9faojpu.jpg

July 19, 2014	#14
nickbolk Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Squamish, BC Canada Posts: 33	That's a great little spread you had at your table!