Top 6 Heirloom Tomatoes Every Market Grower Should Cultivate for Maximum Profits
The popularity of heirloom tomatoes just keeps growing every year as more people discover their wonderful flavors and unique tastes. When you bite into an heirloom tomato, you experience a burst of sweetness, tanginess, and depth that supermarket varieties simply cannot match.
It’s no wonder food shoppers don’t mind paying a premium—often a lot more—at markets and farm stands for these luscious fruits.
The appeal of heirloom tomatoes extends beyond just flavor. They come in an array of colors, from deep blacks and vibrant greens to cheerful reds, pinks, and yellows. This kaleidoscope of hues, often with streaks, stripes, or unique shapes, catches the eye and invites consumers to indulge.
Most gardeners growing for market agree that heirloom tomatoes offer the best of both worlds: customer-pleasing taste and high profits. The demand can be so great that growers often have to ration the number of tomatoes each customer can buy, ensuring everyone walks away with at least a few!
If you’re considering growing heirloom tomatoes, aim for a well-rounded mix of colors and ripening times. Start with early varieties to sell at the beginning of the season, add mid-season varieties for the peak of summer, and include late-season varieties to extend sales into the fall.
A simple hoop house can help you stretch the season even further, often by a month on either end of the growing cycle. With hundreds of varieties to choose from, where do you start? Every grower has their favorites, influenced by local microclimates and personal taste. Here, I’ll introduce you to six crowd-pleasers that cover the tomato color spectrum and have proven profitable for many growers over the years.
Heirloom Tomatoes vs. Regular Tomatoes: What are the Differences?
Heirloom tomatoes and regular tomatoes, often found in grocery stores, differ significantly in several ways. Heirloom tomatoes, known for their rich flavors and unique shapes, are typically open-pollinated varieties that have been passed down through generations.
These tomatoes come in a stunning array of colors, from deep purples to vibrant yellows, making them visually appealing. In contrast, regular tomatoes, often hybrids or commercially produced varieties, are bred primarily for durability, uniformity, and shelf life.
This focus on production often sacrifices flavor and texture, leaving many regular tomatoes tasting bland and lacking the vibrant flavors that heirlooms provide.
Here’s a table comparing heirloom tomatoes and regular tomatoes, highlighting their key differences:
| Feature | Heirloom Tomatoes | Regular Tomatoes |
| Definition | Open-pollinated varieties passed down through generations | Often hybrids or commercially produced varieties |
| Appearance | Diverse shapes and vibrant colors (deep purples, yellows) | Uniform shapes, primarily red or yellow |
| Flavor | Rich, complex flavors with sweet and tangy profiles | Generally bland, lacking depth of flavor |
| Growing Conditions | Thrive in diverse conditions, require more care | Engineered for durability and easy cultivation |
| Shelf Life | Shorter shelf life, fresher taste | Longer shelf life for shipping and storage |
| Culinary Use | Preferred by chefs for unique taste | Commonly used in everyday cooking |
| Gardening Experience | Rewarding for dedicated gardeners | More straightforward to grow |
This table summarizes the main distinctions between heirloom and regular tomatoes, making it easy to compare their characteristics at a glance!
1. Black From Tula
This mid-season black variety hails from Russia and produces an abundant crop of large, mouth-watering, rich-flavored tomatoes. While not truly black, the purple-mahogany fruits offer a visual feast that’s perfect for sampling at farmers’ markets. With a maturation time of around 75 days, Black From Tula has consistently won over consumers with its unique taste and stunning color.
The flavor profile of these tomatoes is remarkably robust. When sliced, their rich, sweet flavor shines through, making them an excellent choice for fresh salads or gourmet sandwiches.
Additionally, they hold up well in cooking, enhancing sauces and stews with a depth that many shoppers crave. Plus, the allure of a tomato with an exotic background adds an extra layer of intrigue for customers eager to try something new.
| Check out: How to Start a Backyard Heirloom Tomato Business For $600 |
2. Costoluto Genovese
If you’re looking to impress with presentation, Costoluto Genovese is the way to go. This stunning tomato boasts deeply fluted, bright red skin and has been cherished for over 200 years—Thomas Jefferson even grew this variety! Its full-flavored, meaty taste makes it an ideal candidate for hearty pasta sauces and delicious salsas. Like Black From Tula, it matures in about 75 days, making it a reliable mid-season choice.
One of the unique aspects of Costoluto Genovese is its versatility in the kitchen. Shoppers appreciate its meaty texture, which holds up beautifully when cooked, allowing for a rich, satisfying sauce that can transform a simple meal into a culinary masterpiece.
And let’s not forget its aesthetic appeal; when displayed at market stalls, the fluted shape creates an inviting visual that draws customers in.
3. Green Zebra
Green Zebra tomatoes are not only beautiful but also delicious. Named for their distinctive green zebra-like stripes on an amber-gold background, these mature 2-inch fruits pack a punch with their bright green flesh and tangy, sweet flavor. With a maturation period of just 72 days, they make a fantastic addition to any market grower’s lineup.
Famed chef Alice Waters has been a longtime fan of the Green Zebra, often serving it at her renowned restaurant, Chez Panisse. The tomatoes’ unique taste pairs wonderfully with fresh mozzarella or as a colorful addition to a garden salad. When displayed at farmers’ markets, their eye-catching appearance draws customers in, while their taste keeps them coming back for more.
4. Stupice
If you want to get your tomato-selling season off to an early start, look no further than Stupice. This proven variety matures in just 52 days, allowing you to offer fresh tomatoes earlier than many competitors. Stupice is known for its great taste and adaptability; it thrives in both cold and hot weather, producing an abundance of bright red, 3 to 4-ounce fruits.
Interestingly, the cooler fall weather brings out the sweetness in Stupice even more. Shoppers love the balance of acidity and sweetness, making it a favorite for both fresh eating and cooking. Whether you’re selling them at market or using them in your own kitchen, Stupice tomatoes are a guaranteed hit.
5. Brandywine
Brandywine tomatoes are legendary among heirloom varieties. This outstanding heirloom has become a consistent best seller, winning countless tasting competitions and accolades over the years.
Easy to grow and disease-resistant, Brandywine produces big, one-pound fruits that are simply irresistible. The roots of this variety trace back over 100 years to Brandywine Creek in Pennsylvania, where it first gained popularity among gardeners.
The rich, full-bodied flavor of Brandywine tomatoes makes them perfect for a variety of culinary applications. Whether you’re slicing them for sandwiches, dicing them for salads, or using them in sauces, their versatility shines through.
Brandywine tomatoes typically mature in about 90 days, allowing for plenty of time to capture consumer interest before the growing season wraps up.
6. Amy’s Sugar Gem
For a burst of sweetness, Amy’s Sugar Gem is a cherry tomato that takes the crown. This very early variety of heirloom tomatoes produces large clusters of golf ball-sized fruits that are renowned for their rich, sweet taste. Ready for harvest in just 65 days, these tomatoes are a popular seller at markets and are perfect for snacking.
Shoppers often can’t resist the allure of these tiny, sweet gems. Their bright red color and sweet flavor make them an excellent addition to fruit salads, cheese platters, or simply eaten straight from the vine. When displayed in charming baskets at farmers’ markets, they entice customers to indulge in their sweetness, making Amy’s Sugar Gem a delightful addition to any grower’s crop lineup.
Conclusion
These six heirloom tomato varieties provide a fantastic introduction into the tasty and profitable world of heirloom tomatoes. Each variety combines delightful flavor with substantial yields, ensuring they remain customer favorites at farmers’ markets across the country.
As you consider your tomato-growing plans, remember to incorporate a mix of colors and ripening times to meet customer demands throughout the season. By cultivating these crowd-pleasers, you not only cater to discerning palates but also set yourself up for a fruitful harvest that delights both you and your customers. Happy growing!
