North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Betty Mayfield <bmayfield@opusnet.com>]

To the list,

A couple of years ago I went to a farmers market looking for 
tomatoes. I chatted with a vendor who said tomatoes were his hobby 
and he had been growing them for 50 years. I told him I didn't want 
one advertised as sweet or low acid but preferred a tangy one with 
real tomato taste. He recommended Early Pick, which was delicious.

The next summer I went back, but he was gone - apparently finally 
retired. I asked another tomato vendor what variety he was selling, 
and he said, "Whatever was ripe this morning." Needless to say, I hurried away.

Varieties do matter, and growers would benefit if they asked what 
people like before recommending what was "good."

Betty Mayfield
Northwest Oregon