March 30, 2009
Jaime Zaplatosch
The Examiner, Chicago
Photo: Striped German tomato shown with Jaime's face to provide actual size reference.
I write this article to get some of you riled up. Seriously. My husband sent me a link to a story that is currently in the Scientific American called, "How to Grow a Better Tomato: The Case Against Heirloom Tomatoes."
They are denouncing the value of the heirloom tomato. You've already heard from me that I love heirloom varieties.
The link to the article is here.
I will recap what this article covers:
- Heirloom tomatoes are inbred (which they are) and therefore are inferior to hybridized tomatoes.
- Heirloom tomatoes don't produce much fruit.
- Heirloom tomatoes are plagued by diseases and imperfect fruit.
- Monsanto wants to "help" make heirlooms more vigorous for the home gardener by breeding back in disease resistant genes.
Most gardener's who grow heirlooms every year would completely object to each of these points. They provide large, numerous, tasty fruit on every plant. Yes, they might not be identically sized and shaped so that mass-producers of tomatoes can't use them for crops that must fit into pre-sized crates. But they don't need to be. Go to Whole Foods and see organic, heirloom tomatoes garnering $5.99 per pound in season, in contrast to the hybridized versions selling at $.99. People must like them to pay that price!
Certainly all the rain of the 2008 season in the Midwest cracked some of my heirloom tomatoes. But they cracked the hybridized ones as well – as the calcium they need for strong skin was washed away with the rain. And, if Monsanto (or Seminis Seed Co.) starts selling formerly heirloom tomatoes with the same name, you won't be able to save those seeds year after year as they will be patented.
Though I would love to hear from those who agree with my points here, please read the article for yourself! I encourage as many of you as possible to make a comment on the Scientific American boycotting their position that heirloom tomatoes are just inferior to hybridized tomatoes.
HOLLY NOTE: We have to agree with Jaime Zaplatosch on her assessment of heirloom tomatoes on several points.
- Heirlooms aren't inferior due to inbreeding. Heirlooms are different from open-pollinated in that these varieties have been around sometimes for hundreds of years. Though people define "heirloom" by varying lengths of time, to qualify, these seeds are at least 50 years old. Many varieties date back several hundred years old and were brought over from Europe. These wonderful plants' seeds were saved and passed on generationally. Because seed savers collect the hardiest and earliest blooming plants, they are by definition the ones that have stood the test of time. Think survival of the fittest.
- Our heirloom Red Romas last year were not only prolific and flavorful, but were free of disease or funny-looking fruit. True, some varieties do produce non-uniform tomatoes, but she's hit the nail on the head stating that commercial growers want all fruit to be of one size so they fit nicely into shipping boxes.
- Easy preventative measures detailed in Garden Gold, eliminate many pest battles before they even start. That's the key. Prevention.
http://www.examiner.com/x-464-Chicago-Gardening-Examiner~y2009m3d30-Hooray-for-heirloom-tomatoes