Heirloom Tomatoes

When you think of an heirloom, what comes to mind? A family possession that is handed down from generation to generation? Well, that's the story with heirloom tomatoes. These varieties have a depth of history since they were cultivated many years ago. New breeds of tomatoes were developed for easy handling, but they seemed to have lost their vibrant flavor. Not heirlooms. Their open-pollinated seeds produce a well textured and flavorful tomato in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes that will bring back memories of walking through grandma's garden. "Heirloom" varieties are often classified as those that were popular prior to 1950. In the past 60 years, many heirlooms were lost along with family farms and replaced by commercial hybrids which have attractive characteristics, but not the taste of heirlooms. In addition to their natural goodness, each heirloom tomato averages about 35 calories, is high in vitamins A and C and is low in cholesterol and fat. These heirlooms are worth treasuring!