Heirloom tomatoes are something really very special. I don’t know if they are appreciated as much as they should be because they are so ubiquitous these days, they are almost expected for some fine dining experiences. To me they have a whole different meaning than just flavor and appearance. Heirloom tomato plants are more particular than hybridized tomato plants. In practical terms this means that I will be able to harvest a lot less usable fruit from my heirloom plants and it will probably take as much or more work. The extra work that I put into them definitely skew my view so I think of them as something special even before I slice into one. When I am eating an heirloom tomato I am not looking for a “tomato” taste or texture, I am looking for something different, something with some zing, a creamy texture, an absolutely beautiful array of colors. I also appreciate the ugly heirlooms I get, which are many, as much as the perfectly shaped ones. True heirloom tomatoes are something that I prize and truly appreciate.
