Some Other Colors

 

 

 

Berkeley Tie Dye ($6.25) This rare and wild exotic fruit with big bold luscious flavors looks just like its the name implies -- with spectacular streaks and swirls of green and yellow and red and orange and green dappling inside and out. From 8 to 12 ounces, Berkeley Tie Dye is another fabulous variety from tomato breeder Brad Gates of Wild Boar Farms here in California. 

 

A portion of the proceeds of Berkeley Tie Dye will be donated to TACA, Talk About Curing Autism in the names of two very winsome young fellows.  Photograph used with the kind permission of Brad Gates.

 

 

 Blue Fruit ( $4.95) 76 days. Astonishing color and sublime flavor make this 2”- 3” round, purplish- gray, almost blue tomato a rare and wonderful surprise for your garden. Averaging about 8 ounces, with all the enticing flavor of the legendary black tomatoes, its unmatched color makes it a real delight. Growing on a potato-leafed plant, Blue Fruit is rich and smoky, easy to grow and very prolific.

 

 Brown Derby (Elser's) ($5.95) 75 days. My absolute favorite discovery this season, no contest. Combining the richness of the black tomatoes and the spiciness of the greens, this is a spectacular cross of my all-time favorite, Paul Robeson, and the legendary Aunt Ruby's German Green.

It arose about 5 years ago in the garden of Maria & Darrell Elser of Elser's Country Farm in Yucaipa, California and they have been selling it to adoring customers at their Southern California heirloom tomato farm stands for several years. The flavor is tantalizing--tart and sweet, a perfect combination of tang to sweetness with plenty of juice and a rapturous brown and green color. When Amazing Terry and I first tasted it in August, our eyes got wide, we grinned and  stared at each other with the 'Oh-my-God-this-is-incredible' look.  I could barely believe my mouth.

Elser's Brown Derby has become a much sought after favorite at Maria and Darrell's Farmer's Market stands  where customers arrive early to get their hands on one of these treasures. I had to scramble to get this one. True story. Another customer implored me, but I di not budge, wouldn't give it up. I wanted it for the photograph because it was so beautiful. Then we ate eat. At this time we have very few seeds so our supply of Brown Derby plants will be limited.

 (This fruit is not related to Tom Wagner's Brown Derby line, arose independently from that line and was named without knowledge of it.)

 

 

  Cherokee Chocolate ($4.95) 75 days. This gorgeous tomato is sweet, rich and luscious, with a very distinctive dark chocolate mahogany hue, and brownish-black shoulders. 12 ounces and plentiful on the vine; this  stunning beauty which arose as spontaneous 'rogue' tomato in Craig LeHoullier's garden several years ago.  Craig stabilized it and now this 4-inch beefsteak variety has developed a great following among celebrity chefs because of its exceptionally rich color and flavor.

 

 

Great White ($4.95) 85 days. (B) This huge, 16-20 oz. creamy-white beefsteak heirloom has a dazzling pink blush on the blossom end when ripe, and wonderfully sweet, tropical melon-like flavor. Stunning on the vine, enchanting at the table. My favorite white tomato.

 

 

 

Super Snow White ($4.95) 70 days. (E)   A gourmet's delight. I can't say enough about this exquisite, ping pong ball sized, white cherry tomato which ripens from white to ivory to palest yellow with a bright, rich and sweet juicy flavor. Very prolific, easy to grow, pretty as starlight and a top seller.

 

 

 

New for 2010!  White Beauty ($4.95) 75 days.      I'd forgotten how much I love this tomato until I tried it again this summer. Wow.  Sweet and fragrant, luscious, sinful, very juicy yet meaty with a silky texture, heady aromas and tropical honey-like overtones.  It's the kind of tomato you want to share with someone but its challenging to share. Like, "Hey, c'mere!  You've gotta try this!" Then instantly regretting the offer and cutting their piece rather small so you have more for yourself. This tomato inspires insatiable intemperance and can bring out the worst in you...or me. Ripening to pure white or palest yellow, White Beauty is a dreamy pleasure for your senses.

 

 

 

 

 

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