There are more than 3,000 varieties of heirloom or heritage tomatoes currently being cultivated worldwide and more than 15,000 known varieties. That’s a lot of tomatoes! With so many tomatoes out there, it’s hard to choose just one. Here is the run down to help you make your decision.
Orange Heirloom Tomatoes: Orange and yellow tomato varieties have a mile sweet flavor and the lowest acid content of any tomato variety.
Green Heirloom Tomatoes: Green tomato varieties have a lower acid content than red varieties, they are described as sweet and tart tasting.
Cherry Tomatoes: These bite-size wonders are sweet, juicy, and great for snacking on!
Grape Tomatoes: Similar to cherry tomatoes but longer and more grape-like in appearance. There are actually several types of grape tomatoes ranging from tangy to sweet. Like cherry tomatoes, they are great for snacks or for tossing with salads.
Red Beefsteak Tomato: Known as the “salsa” tomato or the king of all tomatoes! They are very juicy and meaty, making them ideal for spreads, sauces, and salsa making.
Roma Tomatoes: A preferred staple in many homes because they have fewer seeds than other varieties and their meatiness makes them a great choice for stews and sauces.
Cocktail Tomatoes: These round jewels have a sweet and fruity taste, making them a more versatile candidate than many other varieties.
Tomatoes on the Vine: These tomatoes are left on the vine all the way to the store. This unique method of preserving them means they continue to get nutrients until the day you use them. They are extremely versatile and can be used for just about any task.
Purple Heirloom Tomatoes: Despite the name, these tomatoes are often purple or brown in color. They have more acid than yellow or green heirloom tomatoes and have a smoky-sweet taste profile.
Blue Ribbon Tomato Recipes
Have we inspired you to pick up some tomatoes and get in the kitchen? If so, try some of these yummy Blue Ribbon tomato recipes.
Tomato Mozzarella Salad With Balsamic Dressing
“Super easy, super flavorful! This is a great way to get my boys to eat tomatoes, they love this salad. It is super easy and even better when we pick the tomatoes out of our garden and I always have fresh basil in a pot. So good.” – Monica
Tomato Pie
“This savory tomato pie is delicious! We see why Linda gets invited to every picnic. It’s creamy, tangy, and seasoned to perfection. We love the crushed croutons in the pie. They absorb the juices and keep the pie from having a soggy bottom. The end result is similar in taste to a BLT, just minus the lettuce.” – The Kitchen Crew
Pastina Stuffed Tomatoes
“I make this dish often – my family really likes it. Besides being flavorful, the tomatoes make a colorful, zesty addition to any dinner.” – Christine
Chicken Parmesan & Creamy Tomato & Basil Spaghetti
“This is a fresh new take on an old recipe. It’s loaded with fresh ingredients and my family loves it and so do my friends now. I made this for dinner with friends and they love the fresh taste of this Parmesan and spaghetti!” – Josee
Healthy Chicken Tacos
“We absolutely love tacos! My husband is on a diet so I devised a different way to enjoy tacos by using chicken and a different salad mixture. The mixture of avocados, tomatoes, and red onion in the EVO and lemon pepper really gives a new flavor and flare to the taco. They are so easy to prepare.” – Sena
Gnocchi With Artichokes, Tomatoes, and Mushrooms
“Gnocchi are so cute and I love finding ways to eat them. Plus, I was looking for a way to use up some ingredients that I had. Although it’s meatless, the beans provide protein.” – Carolyn
Family Favorite Panzanella Salad
“Italian Panzanella Salad or Bread Salad is an awesome way to use up any day-old dinner rolls or bakery hamburger buns you may have. Serve as a side salad or lay sliced, grilled chicken breasts or grilled jumbo shrimp on top for a quick and delicious meal.” – Family Favorites
Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes
“My granddaughter loves these. The red cherry tomatoes are good but the little yellow tomatoes are fantastic, much better than the red ones.” – Cathy
Fresh Tomato Salsa
“This is good with chips and rice dishes, or anything you like!” – Stephanie
