"The Blacks" Tomato du jour

brokenbar · February 10, 2010

For those who sell their tomatoes, I wanted to speak about a trend here in Wyoming. I only grow only paste varieties for my sun-dried tomato business. Until a couple of years ago, Chef's bought whatever I had and had "No Opinion". That changed when they read what I consider to be the hype, about the available "black" varieties and the descriptions that ranged from exotic to smokey-flavored to "they will make you live longer" (not really but very nearly...)

My husband grows tomatoes for the Farmer's Market. Last year, he grew about 15 varieties of Blacks (those who saw the list of seeds I was giving away can see that he took the requests of his customers to heart.) He reports that he sold every black variety he took to market ahead of any other red, pink, orange, green or yellow variety he took to sell. Customers asked him continually where he got the seed and wanted to know if he sold plants in the spring.

Tomato popularity runs in cycles as we all know. Heirlooms in general are attracting quite a lot of attention but the Black varieties are causing what I consider to be, quite a stir. Whether I personally believe all the hype does not matter. I think everyone who sells to market should cash in on the current rage for Blacks while the feeding frenzy (

) is at it's peak.
And use that "hype" to your advantage...My husband had a arge poster with all of the descriptions about taste, etc and I think that also attracted a lot of buyers. Just sayin'...

JulieTA · February 10, 2010

Great recommendation, thank you! I'm glad I ordered lots of purple/black seeds! :-)

dustdevil · February 10, 2010

Good pointer. Does your husband hand out samples or is it you buy it to find out how they taste? Buyers at the farm market by me are "meat and potatoes", so they are afraid to buy the unusual and like to stick to the traditional red.

mtbigfish · February 10, 2010

Dust
have samples to taste of only the blacks you think taste great and no REDS - people are always into samples - then have people signup for which black they would like you to have next year - and if you sell plants take pre-orders
Dennis

mmcd75 · February 10, 2010

I sell heirloom tomato plants at local farmers markets and I noticed the same trend at my market also. Red varities had always been the most popular then last spring the blacks really took off, outselling all the other others including the reds by about 500% it was amazing. I'm not sure what will happen this year but I am prepared.

**carolyn137** · February 10, 2010

The cuurent fad for so called black tomatoes started back in the mid to late 90's and is still going on today as I see it. Some areas of the country were on to it ASAP and others have lagged behind. If I pull out one of my SSE YEarbooks from the early 90's, which I'm not going to do b'c then the pile collapses, falls into the next pile of them and that collapses, etc, there were less than FIVE black varieties listed and now it's way up over maybe 150 although I didn't take the time to count; some in the other color section and some in the pink/purple section.

Several of us had predicted that the next fad would be for the green when ripes and that has come to pass.

The problem I see is that when there's a fad there are folks who change names of varieties to make something look unique and that certainly happened with the many blacks along the way, and I suspect that the same thing will be happening shortly with the green when ripes.

A lot of the blacks aren't family heirlooms at all. They're the result of natural crossing and selections from that cross. And some have been deliberately bred.

In the long run if you like the taste of something run with it, but with all that's gone on in the black and green when ripe tomato world don't bet on each variety being unique and for sure don't assume that all of them are family heirlooms, b'c they aren't.

mtbigfish · February 10, 2010

and mutations too

brokenbar · February 10, 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by dustdevil

Good pointer. Does your husband hand out samples or is it you buy it to find out how they taste? Buyers at the farm market by me are "meat and potatoes", so they are afraid to buy the unusual and like to stick to the traditional red.

Yes, he did samples (he does of all of his tomatoes) Likewise here, a predominantly Mormon farming community but they have fallen in love with the blacks.

brokenbar · February 10, 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by carolyn137

The current fad for so called black tomatoes started back in the mid to late 90's and is still going on today as I see it. Some areas of the country were on to it ASAP and others have lagged behind. If I pull out one of my SSE Yearbooks from the early 90's, which I'm not going to do b'c then the pile collapses, falls into the next pile of them and that collapses, etc, there were less than FIVE black varieties listed and now it's way up over maybe 150 although I didn't take the time to count; some in the other color section and some in the pink/purple section.

Several of us had predicted that the next fad would be for the green when ripes and that has come to pass.

The problem I see is that when there's a fad there are folks who change names of varieties to make something look unique and that certainly happened with the many blacks along the way, and I suspect that the same thing will be happening shortly with the green when ripes.

A lot of the blacks aren't family heirlooms at all. They're the result of natural crossing and selections from that cross. And some have been deliberately bred.

In the long run if you like the taste of something run with it, but with all that's gone on in the black and green when ripe tomato world don't bet on each variety being unique and for sure don't assume that all of them are family heirlooms, b'c they aren't.

"Midnight in Moscow" rings a bell... I do know that many who bought from my husband were interested in the ones that came for Russian, Poland and the other Slavic regions. He also said that he had at least 4 customers that told him they heard the blacks had 5 times the Lycopene of reds or other colors (

) and that they would lengthen your life span from 2 to 10 years (

) Shameless seller that my Husband is, he said nothing to dissuade them. I carped at him about it but he said it was not his fault they read and believed that and it's not a good idea to argue with your customers....Now if only I could grow one that was purported to cure baldness...

habitat_gardener · February 11, 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by brokenbar

....Now if only I could grow one that was purported to cure baldness...

Well, there are a few tomatoes that have "peach fuzz" and if your husband is bald, he could say he's trying out a cure for baldness that he heard about. (Where did he hear about it? Right here on tomatoville....)

dave · February 11, 2010

has anyone grown the black tomato "Morado" that Baker Creek sells and states in the catalog "should be a good variety for the market grower" dave

icelord · February 11, 2010

I sell alot of tomatoes, and alot of them go to chefs. The blacks have picked up big, I dont plant to many red's at all and they are not missed.
My biggest seller last year was Spears Tennesee Green. Followed very close by Black From Tula, and Oxacan Jewel and Orange Russian 117.
The absolute best cherry tomatoes were Black cherry and Snow White.
My oxhearts always go good also.

Icelord

brokenbar · February 11, 2010

Oaxacan Jewel is a favorite here. Big and really pretty sliced and always does well no matter the season. It is one we plan on growing in Mexico as that is it's native local anyway. And for a big tomato, the plants produce quite a lot of fruit. Of all the blacks, Balck From Tula is my very favorite.
It is just a work horse and looks good, tastes good and does well in our short season area. I think Tula get's overlooked a lot by growers.

brokenbar · February 11, 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by icelord

I sell alot of tomatoes, and alot of them go to chefs. The blacks have picked up big, I dont plant to many red's at all and they are not missed.
My biggest seller last year was Spears Tennesee Green. Followed very close by Black From Tula, and Oxacan Jewel and Orange Russian 117.
The absolute best cherry tomatoes were Black cherry and Snow White.
My oxhearts always go good also.

Icelord

My husband added stuffing tomatoes two years ago and the chef's LOVE them . Zapotec, Yellow Stuffer, A red and yellow striped one who's name escapes me and a couple of others. I also shared recipe's for various stuffing recipes that he handed out. These were a big hit.

Blueaussi · February 11, 2010

Striped Cavern?

I made the mistake of growing that last year. My mother used them for a bridge club luncheon, and they were a hit. Now I'm stuck growing them, and they don't have the best flavor, in my opinion. I am trying some of the bi-colors to try and find something with more flavor to distract Mom.

February 10, 2010	#1
brokenbar Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Of The Border Posts: 1,169	"The Blacks" Tomato du jour For those who sell their tomatoes, I wanted to speak about a trend here in Wyoming. I only grow only paste varieties for my sun-dried tomato business. Until a couple of years ago, Chef's bought whatever I had and had "No Opinion". That changed when they read what I consider to be the hype, about the available "black" varieties and the descriptions that ranged from exotic to smokey-flavored to "they will make you live longer" (not really but very nearly...) My husband grows tomatoes for the Farmer's Market. Last year, he grew about 15 varieties of Blacks (those who saw the list of seeds I was giving away can see that he took the requests of his customers to heart.) He reports that he sold every black variety he took to market ahead of any other red, pink, orange, green or yellow variety he took to sell. Customers asked him continually where he got the seed and wanted to know if he sold plants in the spring. Tomato popularity runs in cycles as we all know. Heirlooms in general are attracting quite a lot of attention but the Black varieties are causing what I consider to be, quite a stir. Whether I personally believe all the hype does not matter. I think everyone who sells to market should cash in on the current rage for Blacks while the feeding frenzy ( ) is at it's peak. And use that "hype" to your advantage...My husband had a arge poster with all of the descriptions about taste, etc and I think that also attracted a lot of buyers. Just sayin'... __________________ "If I'm not getting dirty, I'm not having a good time."

February 10, 2010	#6
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	The cuurent fad for so called black tomatoes started back in the mid to late 90's and is still going on today as I see it. Some areas of the country were on to it ASAP and others have lagged behind. If I pull out one of my SSE YEarbooks from the early 90's, which I'm not going to do b'c then the pile collapses, falls into the next pile of them and that collapses, etc, there were less than FIVE black varieties listed and now it's way up over maybe 150 although I didn't take the time to count; some in the other color section and some in the pink/purple section. Several of us had predicted that the next fad would be for the green when ripes and that has come to pass. The problem I see is that when there's a fad there are folks who change names of varieties to make something look unique and that certainly happened with the many blacks along the way, and I suspect that the same thing will be happening shortly with the green when ripes. A lot of the blacks aren't family heirlooms at all. They're the result of natural crossing and selections from that cross. And some have been deliberately bred. In the long run if you like the taste of something run with it, but with all that's gone on in the black and green when ripe tomato world don't bet on each variety being unique and for sure don't assume that all of them are family heirlooms, b'c they aren't. __________________ Carolyn

February 11, 2010	#12
icelord Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: 23463 copemish Mi 49625 Posts: 180	Blacks I sell alot of tomatoes, and alot of them go to chefs. The blacks have picked up big, I dont plant to many red's at all and they are not missed. My biggest seller last year was Spears Tennesee Green. Followed very close by Black From Tula, and Oxacan Jewel and Orange Russian 117. The absolute best cherry tomatoes were Black cherry and Snow White. My oxhearts always go good also. Icelord

February 11, 2010	#13
brokenbar Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Of The Border Posts: 1,169	Oaxacan Jewel is a favorite here. Big and really pretty sliced and always does well no matter the season. It is one we plan on growing in Mexico as that is it's native local anyway. And for a big tomato, the plants produce quite a lot of fruit. Of all the blacks, Balck From Tula is my very favorite. It is just a work horse and looks good, tastes good and does well in our short season area. I think Tula get's overlooked a lot by growers. __________________ "If I'm not getting dirty, I'm not having a good time."

February 10, 2010	#2
JulieTA Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Moore, South Carolina Posts: 35	Great recommendation, thank you! I'm glad I ordered lots of purple/black seeds! :-)

February 10, 2010	#3
dustdevil Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: WI, USA Zone4 Posts: 1,887	Good pointer. Does your husband hand out samples or is it you buy it to find out how they taste? Buyers at the farm market by me are "meat and potatoes", so they are afraid to buy the unusual and like to stick to the traditional red.

February 10, 2010	#4
mtbigfish Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chillicothe Ohio - left Calif July 2010 Posts: 451	Dust have samples to taste of only the blacks you think taste great and no REDS - people are always into samples - then have people signup for which black they would like you to have next year - and if you sell plants take pre-orders Dennis

February 10, 2010	#5
mmcd75 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 41	I sell heirloom tomato plants at local farmers markets and I noticed the same trend at my market also. Red varities had always been the most popular then last spring the blacks really took off, outselling all the other others including the reds by about 500% it was amazing. I'm not sure what will happen this year but I am prepared.

February 11, 2010	#11
dave Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Broken Arrow, oklahoma Posts: 23	has anyone grown the black tomato "Morado" that Baker Creek sells and states in the catalog "should be a good variety for the market grower" dave

February 11, 2010	#15
Blueaussi Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Carolina Zone 8a Posts: 1,205	Striped Cavern? I made the mistake of growing that last year. My mother used them for a bridge club luncheon, and they were a hit. Now I'm stuck growing them, and they don't have the best flavor, in my opinion. I am trying some of the bi-colors to try and find something with more flavor to distract Mom.