Amishland at it again!

[JereGettle]

"Most of us have to go by a catalog's description. Maybe there should be other companies who receive a big thumbs down for the descriptions in their catalogs."


May be you should try the tomato for your self, before you decide on my taste for tomatoes, Me and my grower really liked this tomato...

I really don't care who does or who does not....

I only go by what we like!

Originally Posted by JereGettle

… Me and my grower really liked this tomato...

I really don't care who does or who does not....

I only go by what we like!

That's important. If you just go by what other people like, you might attract a bunch of people that don't agree with you, and have a harder time relating to your loyal customers who like your products. I enjoy your store quite a bit, myself (as does just about everyone I've talked with).

It's definitely possible that taste subjectivity is the case here. Many people like different things. I like the taste of both raw and cooked large zucchini. I'm guessing not everyone would agree. I'm not a huge fan of the Brandywine-type tomato taste, either, compared to other kinds of tomato taste. My tomatoes don't have to taste like classic tomatoes to taste good, either. If they tasted like peaches, I would be fine with that and think it was awesome. To some people, that might be an outrage. However, there are at least two more possibilities than peoples' tongues differing here.

It seems to me that many tomatoes actually taste significantly different in different growing conditions. So, it's also possible that you all would actually agree with each other about the taste of the particular tomatoes grown (rather than the kind of tomato as a whole), and just don't know it.

Both of the best-tasting tomatoes I've tried have the ability to taste much different (and not-so-best-tasting) under different conditions (even in the same climate). However, I've read a lot of reviews for tomatoes, and it seems from what I've read that many tomatoes that taste great in the desert don't taste so great in say Washington, Pennsylvania, or South Carolina, and vice versa.

Also, soil nutrients and moisture levels can affect taste. Light (or the lack of it) can, too. Different tomatoes like different stuff. Some people act like all tomatoes need the same care for optimum results. This isn't true (at least in the first generation grown in those conditions, if not some of the following generations).

Another possibility is that specific strains sold at different stores just taste different.

[feldon30]

In case anyone missed it, Jere Gettle is owner/operator of Baker Creek Seeds.

Hopefully you don't feel your catalog is being accused of anything!


Flavor is subjective. Histories can be challenged.

I find TGS incredibly generous in its flavor profiles. We would have no need for Brandywine and Cherokee Purple if half their flavor descriptions rang true.

Amishland just makes things up out of whole cloth, describing varieties that were bred 10 years ago in the U.S. as "old Russian heirlooms handed down from seed saved from 100 years ago" and other nonsense. Fortunately, histories can be proven and disproven where the facts have not been obscured by time, and I know you are one who tries to have a level of accuracy which is admirable.

Welcome to the forums!!!

[LoreD]

Jere,

Welcome to the forums. You have a great company and we're all happy you are here.

LoreD

[JereGettle]

Thanks!

This is a great site,

I don't know if I have a great company, but I sure do have a fun hobby...

[Adenn1]

Originally Posted by JereGettle

Thanks!

This is a great site,

I don't know if I have a great company, but I sure do have a fun hobby...

I would very sincerely say you have both...please enjoy our company here at Tomatoville and may I wish you continued prosperity with your company.

Adenn1

[virgnia_farmer1776]

thanks for the heads up on seeds of diversity. and on amishland.
Chuck

[Suze]

On the site, Brandywine OTV is incorrectly described as a pinkish-red tomato, and is listed in the 'pink' section. Nor are the tomatoes pictured correct. BW OTV is very red, almost an orangish-red.

Also noticed Mikado Pink and Mikado White being offered for sale.

[flowerpower]

Over at the Baker Creek Forums, there are several posts from Amisland's owner. Mostly defending herself.

[elkwc36]

I have ordered from her and also asked questions. She would be one of the top 4 or so vendors at this time I've done business with. And I have bought from ten this year alone. If I have problems I will email her first like I do all then I will post here if I see a real problem. The service, seeds ect. seem to be fine as of now. I could name a few that is promoted on here that I feel inflate their descriptions, don't send all of the varieties you order but have them a week later but you have to pay shipping again to get them. Coincidence maybe. I only judge anyone from the business dealings I have with them. Jay

[Suze]

Originally Posted by elkwc36

I have ordered from her and also asked questions. She would be one of the top 4 or so vendors at this time I've done business with. And I have bought from ten this year alone. If I have problems I will email her first like I do all then I will post here if I see a real problem. The service, seeds ect. seem to be fine as of now. I could name a few that is promoted on here that I feel inflate their descriptions, don't send all of the varieties you order but have them a week later but you have to pay shipping again to get them. Coincidence maybe. I only judge anyone from the business dealings I have with them. Jay

Jay, I don't disagree in terms of some of the points you've made.

Sure, personal experience certainly counts.

Sure, others may be generous with their descriptions. Lisa is much more "generous" than most others are though, to the point of spreading misinformation and in general, just being ridiculously/annoyingly over the top.

Sure, if someone has problems with a vendor, they should be first contacting that vendor and giving them a chance to rectify the situation before complaining publically.

Specifically, Lisa knowingly renamed varieties as a marketing tool and has even admitted doing so before.
http://web.archive.org/web/200402041...073429078.html

"I honestly believed my names to be a clever marketing tool to steer people to my seed offerings, nothing more."

http://web.archive.org/web/200310080...landseeds.com/

Tom Wagner's Green Grape being called Teenie Greenie, CP being referred to as '1890 Native American' tomato. Yuk. Just a couple of examples.

It should also be mentioned that some of her ebay listings at that time just had the alternative/aka names in them and as such were even more misleading than the website.

Also, there is no Shah Mikado. And the explanation of how she ended up with Mikado (the pink one) defies logic/credibility.

"This pink fruited version of this tomato came mixed in with the very rare pure white " Mikado" or "Shah" that I had traded for."

So, how would it be possible to know what some seeds that happened to be mixed in with another seed pack are? Answer: It probably isn't.

[johnsonjrbm]

Suze - could you amplify your response re Shah Mikado? I noticed that Underwood Gardens also lists a Shah/Mikado in its catalog. (I've never ordered from them before, but they have a good GW rating...)

I've been trying out various white/cream tomatoes, and because I trust T-ville, I would like to know more about the (non)existence of this (faux?) cultivar before I buy from anyone claiming to have it.

Thanks,

Bobby

[johnsonjrbm]

This search led me to another search for "William Weaver" and more education...

I'm now curious as to exact nature of the Tomato Formerly Known as Shah/Mikado. According to Underwood's description:

"3-6 oz. flattened globes of creamy, yellow-white flesh. Excellent, sweet, full-bodied flavor with mild, acid tang."

I'm wondering what tomato seed they may be selling by that name. They want 4 bucks for 40-50 seeds...

[cdntomato]

William Woys Weaver has a tendency to write as much fiction as documented history, the Shah M tomato being a case in point. This tendency is not 'appreciated' (in both senses but not at the same time) by many readers of his publication.

That and his failure to cite critical sources or defer credit make me cautious when hearing his name given as reference.

Jennifer, who was working for the Toronto Hysterical Board when the WWW book came out, omitting mention of a few sources, much to their dismay.

PS Ask Carolyn or Craig about the Shah.

[carolyn137]

PS Ask Carolyn or Craig about the Shah.

*****

Sheesh Jennifer, why did you do that?

Craig probably doesn't know this thread has now menioned Shah, and he has enough on his hands with his dad and all, as well as the fact that he hasn't been posting much lately, so I'll say just a few words, and no more.

The variety Shah has long been known to be extinct.

Weaver has a habit of resurrecting stuff from the dead, regardless of the stuff being posted about Shah and a European source.

Viz General Grant and Red Fig as two other examples that come to mind ASAP as regards Lazarus type offererings by WWW with no plausible documentation.

There never was a Mikado White variety.

Most probably what's being passed off as Shah is Potato Leaf White.

The problem is that Craig has the old seed catalog with Shah described and the color is NOT white/ivory, it's about the color of Yellow Brandywine and waxy looking as the catalog says, and the sizes are off as well.

What's common to Underwood Gardens and Amishland with their listings of this variety is that both Mayo and Lisa know Weaver and believe almost anything he tells them.

That's all folks.