Can someone identify this "white" tomato?

Hilde · September 15, 2007

I finally found out what the variety was! It took a bit of work... I showed up at the farmer's market again Saturday a week ago, to ask for the growers name. I found his daughters there selling produce. They told me their dad would be there on Thursday and Saturday next week (meaning this week). I went there on Thursday, met with the grower. He didn't know the name of the variety, but would look in the catalog so he could tell me on Saturday. Today I went there again and he showed me the catalog. The name of the variety is: White Snowball Tomato, and the seeds came from Shumways.

I have looked online, and here is a description of the variety:

The White Beauty Tomato, also known as the White Snowball Tomato, is a rare heirloom tomato that was said to have been introduced between 1850 to 1863. Over 40 years ago, this lovely white tomato variety disappeared and has only recently been rediscovered in seed banks. This wonderful rarity is an extremely prolific producer of creamy white, round tomatoes up to 1 1/2 pounds each, but typically running about 8 to 10 ounces in size. The tomatoes are very meaty, have few seeds and feature an extremely mild and very sweet taste. Due to their high natural sugar content, they have a low acid taste. The tomatoes are a creamy white, inside and out. In the past, White Beauty/Snowball was typically used to make the tomato preserves that were so popular in decades past, but it also excels as a slicer. These tomatoes are best harvested when they are white to creamy colored throughout. When the tomatoes are of a pale green to white, they could be considered under ripe, where as when they are more of a whitish yellow, they are becoming over ripe.

I am very happy to finally know the name of the variety, and have saved seeds. I would like to grow it next year.

Thanks everyone for your help!

Hilde

September 15, 2007	#16
Hilde Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Pendleton, NY Posts: 256	I finally found out what the variety was! It took a bit of work... I showed up at the farmer's market again Saturday a week ago, to ask for the growers name. I found his daughters there selling produce. They told me their dad would be there on Thursday and Saturday next week (meaning this week). I went there on Thursday, met with the grower. He didn't know the name of the variety, but would look in the catalog so he could tell me on Saturday. Today I went there again and he showed me the catalog. The name of the variety is: White Snowball Tomato, and the seeds came from Shumways. I have looked online, and here is a description of the variety: The White Beauty Tomato, also known as the White Snowball Tomato, is a rare heirloom tomato that was said to have been introduced between 1850 to 1863. Over 40 years ago, this lovely white tomato variety disappeared and has only recently been rediscovered in seed banks. This wonderful rarity is an extremely prolific producer of creamy white, round tomatoes up to 1 1/2 pounds each, but typically running about 8 to 10 ounces in size. The tomatoes are very meaty, have few seeds and feature an extremely mild and very sweet taste. Due to their high natural sugar content, they have a low acid taste. The tomatoes are a creamy white, inside and out. In the past, White Beauty/Snowball was typically used to make the tomato preserves that were so popular in decades past, but it also excels as a slicer. These tomatoes are best harvested when they are white to creamy colored throughout. When the tomatoes are of a pale green to white, they could be considered under ripe, where as when they are more of a whitish yellow, they are becoming over ripe. I am very happy to finally know the name of the variety, and have saved seeds. I would like to grow it next year. Thanks everyone for your help! Hilde