Intense Tomato

KarenO · March 23, 2016

Ever heard of it? Anyone grown out seed from it? Bought some to eat. A dry roma/paste tomato quite good for a grocery store tomato. Saved seed but assuming it's an F1? http://www.thechefstomato.com/

KarenO

**carolyn137** · March 23, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarenO

Ever heard of it? Anyone grown out seed from it? Bought some to eat. A dry roma/paste tomato quite good for a grocery store tomato. Saved seed but assuming it's an F1? http://www.thechefstomato.com/

KarenO

You actually bought the fruits?

I looked at the link and it said distributed by Calvo,clicked on that link and all they had for sale was avocados.

Intense?Have to wonder about that.

Carolyn

KarenO · March 23, 2016

Yes, I have to buy tomatoes sometimes

bought them to eat, not to save seed from but they were good, barely any juice, flesh under skin very thick and meaty. so couldn't resist fermenting a few seeds.
Tasted pretty good for an industrial tomato, almost certainly gassed to ripen and I'm sure they would be far better home grown. It was super meaty, would make great sauce. They have a trademark symbol on the name but was wondering if anybody else had tried it or saved seed and grown them. Once I get some space organized in my new place I might give it a grow to see what comes of it. even if it is an F1, it is almost certainly a cross of two quite similar dry red roma/pastes.
KarenO

oakley · March 23, 2016

Is this a hot house grocery tomato? They have come a long way the past few years.
A few Canadian growers are making a decent attempt but the prices are so high i have not taken the bait.
I did buy the Cumato last year when our grocery had them 3 lbs for 5 bucks right around the holidays. Nothing that special and they were not worth it at all for the usual 5 dollar price...(i marinated them in white balsamic and ac vinegar with some olive oil and rosemary)

...they needed some help but had the right texture.

For the past few years i have upped my cherry tomatoes from 6 to 12 plants since SunGold came along and have a few gallon zip-locks in the freezer still, frozen whole, to get me through the winter. With smoked and roasted and dehydrated others..some heirlooms i freeze slices. Lots of choices all winter for soups, chowders, bisques, and/or a good veggie juice.

The grocery toms are tempting i agree. I have saved seeds then hesitate when so many others deserve my attention.

In my home we agree to cook seasonally and look forward to what we don't have the rest of the year...

Back to your question...if curious give it a go but most likely it will be a trial disappointment as it was designed to travel, have some flavor, but may be a total bust in a garden. If you have the room....

Tormato · March 24, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarenO

Ever heard of it? Anyone grown out seed from it? Bought some to eat. A dry roma/paste tomato quite good for a grocery store tomato. Saved seed but assuming it's an F1? http://www.thechefstomato.com/

KarenO

"quite good for a grocery store tomato"

I... can... not... fathom... a... response...

KarenO · March 25, 2016

Tomato snob that I am, with a 120 day frost free season, I either go tomato-free for the rest of the year or buy them at the grocery store like normal people.
This one was good enough for me to save seeds. When I have a chance in my new house I will grow it out and see what comes of it. I'm sure it's a hothouse ind. hybrid and if so I could see if something is worth stabilizing. Guaranteed that a home grown naturally ripened fruit will taste better than the gassed ones I thought were pretty good. They are advertised as the "chef's tomato" because they are pretty much seedless and firm pastes.
Fathomed now?

K

Norval · March 25, 2016

KarenO, Which shopping chain in the Edmonton area is handling these?

I would like to try some and perhaps, like you, save seeds also.

Norval

KarenO · March 25, 2016

Pm me your address and I'll send you a few seeds if you like in return for letting me know if anything good grows from them and maybe some seeds from your grow out if there is? Nice to see a neighbor on here.
KarenO
I saved them last year. I think I got them at H&W produce but I am not certain.

Tormato · March 25, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarenO

Tomato snob that I am, with a 120 day frost free season, I either go tomato-free for the rest of the year or buy them at the grocery store like normal people.
This one was good enough for me to save seeds. When I have a chance in my new house I will grow it out and see what comes of it. I'm sure it's a hothouse ind. hybrid and if so I could see if something is worth stabilizing. Guaranteed that a home grown naturally ripened fruit will taste better than the gassed ones I thought were pretty good. They are advertised as the "chef's tomato" because they are pretty much seedless and firm pastes.
Fathomed now?

K

"buy them at the grocery store like normal people"

Once every 3-4 winters I get the urge to be normal. Then it's off to the supermarket for 2 or 3 Ugly Ripes, a bottle of French/Catalina dressing, and a bottle of ketchup. The dressing and ketchup smothering the cut tomatoes is about as low as I'll go. And that's my normal.

It must be that the other 245.25 days a year that your taste buds are in such withdrawal, that any port in a storm will do. Dropping anchor at a supermarket in Alberta in March is easily fathomed.

NarnianGarden · March 25, 2016

Hehe. Happy to report that I have found some excellent tasting supermarket toms from a certain chain - there was a cherry tom assortment of various colors, and a black slicer called Chocmande, all grown in Spain.
Next to my homegrown tropical-tasting yummies, these were the closest thing I have ever found... and the price wasn't too bad either! So glad to see that sometimes, just sometimes, one can find a genuine needle in the haystack.

Jonnyhat · March 25, 2016

the only "good" store bought tomatoes I have ever found were at Wegmans here on the NE

Father'sDaughter · March 26, 2016

Since when were "normal" people allowed in?? 😜😜😜

Jeannine Anne · March 26, 2016

Karen, well done to you, if you have managed to find something decent go for it. I will look for them over in my spot too. It gets a long winter here so of course we buy them . One would think it should be possible in this day and age to get a decent tomato during the winter and it seems the growers are trying.I can't yet eat them like an apple but in a sandwich or a recipe I do use store bought in the winter too.

XX Jeannine

Father'sDaughter · March 26, 2016

I stick to supermarket small and cherry varieties as the large tomato offerings, while very pretty in a perfect sort of way, are always a disappointment.

Campari's are my go to, but even with those I will pick up and smell the container. If I don't smell anything remotely resembling a ripe tomato, I pass. Some of the newer cherry offerings aren't bad either, but I go by smell with them as well. I get weird looks in the produce department all the time.

frankcar1965 · March 27, 2016

I regularly buy the "Cherub" brand cherries in the store and they too are pretty good for store bought. I think the company name is Del Monte, guess they're into the produce biz now. These come in a round two piece clamshell with a clear top and yellow bottom. Pretty pricey but they really are pretty good, they are the only tomatoes i will buy in the store, sometimes I really need tomatoes and these are good enough.

March 23, 2016	#1
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	Intense Tomato Ever heard of it? Anyone grown out seed from it? Bought some to eat. A dry roma/paste tomato quite good for a grocery store tomato. Saved seed but assuming it's an F1? http://www.thechefstomato.com/ KarenO

March 23, 2016	#3
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	Yes, I have to buy tomatoes sometimes bought them to eat, not to save seed from but they were good, barely any juice, flesh under skin very thick and meaty. so couldn't resist fermenting a few seeds. Tasted pretty good for an industrial tomato, almost certainly gassed to ripen and I'm sure they would be far better home grown. It was super meaty, would make great sauce. They have a trademark symbol on the name but was wondering if anybody else had tried it or saved seed and grown them. Once I get some space organized in my new place I might give it a grow to see what comes of it. even if it is an F1, it is almost certainly a cross of two quite similar dry red roma/pastes. KarenO Last edited by KarenO; March 23, 2016 at 03:52 PM.

March 25, 2016	#6
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	Tomato snob that I am, with a 120 day frost free season, I either go tomato-free for the rest of the year or buy them at the grocery store like normal people. This one was good enough for me to save seeds. When I have a chance in my new house I will grow it out and see what comes of it. I'm sure it's a hothouse ind. hybrid and if so I could see if something is worth stabilizing. Guaranteed that a home grown naturally ripened fruit will taste better than the gassed ones I thought were pretty good. They are advertised as the "chef's tomato" because they are pretty much seedless and firm pastes. Fathomed now? K Last edited by KarenO; March 25, 2016 at 01:24 AM.

March 23, 2016	#4
oakley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NewYork 5a Posts: 2,303	Is this a hot house grocery tomato? They have come a long way the past few years. A few Canadian growers are making a decent attempt but the prices are so high i have not taken the bait. I did buy the Cumato last year when our grocery had them 3 lbs for 5 bucks right around the holidays. Nothing that special and they were not worth it at all for the usual 5 dollar price...(i marinated them in white balsamic and ac vinegar with some olive oil and rosemary) ...they needed some help but had the right texture. For the past few years i have upped my cherry tomatoes from 6 to 12 plants since SunGold came along and have a few gallon zip-locks in the freezer still, frozen whole, to get me through the winter. With smoked and roasted and dehydrated others..some heirlooms i freeze slices. Lots of choices all winter for soups, chowders, bisques, and/or a good veggie juice. The grocery toms are tempting i agree. I have saved seeds then hesitate when so many others deserve my attention. In my home we agree to cook seasonally and look forward to what we don't have the rest of the year... Back to your question...if curious give it a go but most likely it will be a trial disappointment as it was designed to travel, have some flavor, but may be a total bust in a garden. If you have the room....

March 25, 2016	#7
Norval Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada Posts: 19	KarenO, Which shopping chain in the Edmonton area is handling these? I would like to try some and perhaps, like you, save seeds also. Norval

March 25, 2016	#10
NarnianGarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Finland, EU Posts: 2,550	Hehe. Happy to report that I have found some excellent tasting supermarket toms from a certain chain - there was a cherry tom assortment of various colors, and a black slicer called Chocmande, all grown in Spain. Next to my homegrown tropical-tasting yummies, these were the closest thing I have ever found... and the price wasn't too bad either! So glad to see that sometimes, just sometimes, one can find a genuine needle in the haystack.

March 25, 2016	#11
Jonnyhat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2015 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 337	the only "good" store bought tomatoes I have ever found were at Wegmans here on the NE

March 26, 2016	#12
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	Since when were "normal" people allowed in?? 😜😜😜

March 26, 2016	#13
Jeannine Anne Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 1,553	Karen, well done to you, if you have managed to find something decent go for it. I will look for them over in my spot too. It gets a long winter here so of course we buy them . One would think it should be possible in this day and age to get a decent tomato during the winter and it seems the growers are trying.I can't yet eat them like an apple but in a sandwich or a recipe I do use store bought in the winter too. XX Jeannine

March 27, 2016	#15
frankcar1965 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NW Louisiana Posts: 89	I regularly buy the "Cherub" brand cherries in the store and they too are pretty good for store bought. I think the company name is Del Monte, guess they're into the produce biz now. These come in a round two piece clamshell with a clear top and yellow bottom. Pretty pricey but they really are pretty good, they are the only tomatoes i will buy in the store, sometimes I really need tomatoes and these are good enough.