Produce Briefs...
Orange Honeydew Melon
Oval-to-round and a delicious cross between a cantaloupe and a honeydew, the very fleshy juicy orangish-yellow pulp of the orange honeydew melon is encased in a hard very yellow matching rind.
Sharlyn Melon
The Sharlyn melon has a cracked skin with tan and yellow-orange coloring. Superficially resembling an elongated Cantaloupe, the Sharlyn does not possess the sweet unctuous flavor of Cantaloupes, rather a more restrained balance of sweetness
Grower
Red Teardrop tomatoes are available year round.
Red Teardrop tomatoes are a given name for varieties of tomatoes that were developed from a natural occurring mutation on a Cherry tomato plant. At their natural botanical core, Red Teardrop tomato plants synthesise nutrients, pigments and secondary metabolites. These include the green pigment chlorophyll, the yellow pigment, beta carotene, the red pigment lycopene and the colourless, yet bitter glycoalkaloid, tomatine. Maturity of the fruit directly influences the level of these compounds within the fruit. Chlorophyl and tomatine are found in high concentrations during the first stages of maturity, mechanisms that tomato plants use to protect against predators prior to ripening. Mature fruit swing the pendulum toward high levels of carotene and lycopene, pigments that are responsible for color and flavor. The plant's life cycle is an exercise in the art of survival. Now that the fruits are rich with sugars that have been converted from sunlight, its palatable flavors invite predators and act as a device to promote seed dispersal and the livelihood of future tomato plants.
Red Teardrop tomatoes are distinguished by their petite bowling pin shape and their translucent sun-yellow flesh. A perfect Red Teardrop tomato will be in-season and mature upon harvesting as it requires a certain soil temperature and level of daylight sun to synthesize sugar and flavor components. The result will be a fruit with flavor profiles that reflect the plant's nutrient content, an overwhelming mouthful of juices bursting with flavors sweet, rich, tart and complex.
Red Teardrop tomatoes can be used in any given recipe, fresh, hot or cold, calling for cherry tomatoes or simply, tomatoes. More importantly though, their first and foremost use is for fresh eating. Raw Red Teardrop tomatoes are quintessential salad and salsa tomatoes. Pair Red Teardrop tomatoes with companion ingredients that also happen to be in season. Fresh corn, chiles, watermelon, shelling beans, fresh cheeses, scallops, prawns, eggplant, okra, cucumbers, fresh nuts, avocados, zucchini and herbs such as mint, arugula and basil, each a complimentary match.
All tomato cultivars can trace their historic heritage to coastal South America where 11 species of wild tomatoes have been growing for millions of years. Cherry tomatoes evolved from wild tomatoes to become the first domesticated species of tomatoes. It wasn't until the early 1900's though that breeders reported the segregation of a pear-shaped tomato fruit characterized by a constriction at the stem end of the fruit. It was discovered that this was due to a gene known as the "ovate" gene. However, the origin of this spontaneous mutation is unknown.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
the other 22...
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Red Teardrop Cherry Tomatoes. One
is easiest, three is harder.
| Del Cabo/Jacobs Farm | Homepage |
Seasons/Availability
Red Teardrop tomatoes are available year round.
Current Facts
Red Teardrop tomatoes are a given name for varieties of tomatoes that were developed from a natural occurring mutation on a Cherry tomato plant. At their natural botanical core, Red Teardrop tomato plants synthesise nutrients, pigments and secondary metabolites. These include the green pigment chlorophyll, the yellow pigment, beta carotene, the red pigment lycopene and the colourless, yet bitter glycoalkaloid, tomatine. Maturity of the fruit directly influences the level of these compounds within the fruit. Chlorophyl and tomatine are found in high concentrations during the first stages of maturity, mechanisms that tomato plants use to protect against predators prior to ripening. Mature fruit swing the pendulum toward high levels of carotene and lycopene, pigments that are responsible for color and flavor. The plant's life cycle is an exercise in the art of survival. Now that the fruits are rich with sugars that have been converted from sunlight, its palatable flavors invite predators and act as a device to promote seed dispersal and the livelihood of future tomato plants.
Description/Taste
Red Teardrop tomatoes are distinguished by their petite bowling pin shape and their translucent sun-yellow flesh. A perfect Red Teardrop tomato will be in-season and mature upon harvesting as it requires a certain soil temperature and level of daylight sun to synthesize sugar and flavor components. The result will be a fruit with flavor profiles that reflect the plant's nutrient content, an overwhelming mouthful of juices bursting with flavors sweet, rich, tart and complex.
Applications
Red Teardrop tomatoes can be used in any given recipe, fresh, hot or cold, calling for cherry tomatoes or simply, tomatoes. More importantly though, their first and foremost use is for fresh eating. Raw Red Teardrop tomatoes are quintessential salad and salsa tomatoes. Pair Red Teardrop tomatoes with companion ingredients that also happen to be in season. Fresh corn, chiles, watermelon, shelling beans, fresh cheeses, scallops, prawns, eggplant, okra, cucumbers, fresh nuts, avocados, zucchini and herbs such as mint, arugula and basil, each a complimentary match.
Geography/History
All tomato cultivars can trace their historic heritage to coastal South America where 11 species of wild tomatoes have been growing for millions of years. Cherry tomatoes evolved from wild tomatoes to become the first domesticated species of tomatoes. It wasn't until the early 1900's though that breeders reported the segregation of a pear-shaped tomato fruit characterized by a constriction at the stem end of the fruit. It was discovered that this was due to a gene known as the "ovate" gene. However, the origin of this spontaneous mutation is unknown.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| JRDN Restaurant | San Diego CA | 858-270-5736 |
| Acqua Al 2 Ristorante | San Diego CA | 619-230-0382 |
| Boat House Coronado | Coronado CA | 619-435-0155 |
| San Diego Culinary Institute Inc. | La Mesa CA | 619-644-2100 |
| Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center | National City CA | 619-434-4281 |
| Blue Point / Coastal Cuisine | San Diego CA | 619-233-6623 |
| The Lion Share | San Diego CA | 619-564-6924 |
| Davanti Enoteca | San Diego CA | 858-519-5060 |
| Tom Hams Light House | San Diego CA | 619-291-9110 |
| Rancho Valencia | Del Mar CA | 858-756-1123 |
| Lodge at Torrey Pines Grill | San Diego CA | 858-453-4420 |
| Aztec Shops Catering | San Diego CA | 619-594-7641 |
| Bishop School | San Diego CA | 858-459-4021 x212 |
| Bahia Resort Hotel | San Diego CA | 858-488-0551 |
| Vista Valley | Vista CA | 760-758-2800 |
| Pamplemousse Grill | Solana Beach CA | 858-792-9090 |
| US Grant Hotel Main | San Diego CA | 619-232-3121 |
| Jimmy Love's | San Diego CA | 619-595-0123 |
| Cucina Urbana | San Diego CA | 619-239-2222 |
| Miguel's Old Town | San Diego CA | 619-298-9840 |
| Mothers Ocean Beach | San Diego CA | 619-221-8100 |
| Donovan's Prime Seafood | San Diego CA | 619-906-4850 |
| Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-6063 |
| Gauchito Grill | San Marcos CA | 858-705-1747 |
| Crown Point Catering | San Diego CA | 619-223-1211 |
| Estancia Adobe | San Diego CA | 858-550-1000 |
| La Costa Resort & Spa | Carlsbad CA | 760-930-7063 |
| Miguel's Cocina Carlsbad | Carlsbad CA | 760-759-1843 |
| J six | San Diego CA | 619-531-8744 |
| Marine Room | San Diego CA | 858-551-4676 |
| Eat at Recess LLC | San Diego CA | 619-508-7290 |
| Crust Pizzeria | Carlsbad CA | 760-944-1111 |
| Bridges (at El Cajon Blvd) | San Diego CA | 619-501-9448 |
| Prado at Balboa Park Banquets | San Diego CA | 619-744-3732 |
| Prado at Balboa Park Kitchen | San Diego CA | 619-744-3732 |
| Bread & Cie Café | San Diego CA | 619-683-9322 |
| Finch's Wine Bar & Bistro | La Jolla CA | 858-456-4056 |
| Delta Zeta | San Diego CA | 858-337-7536 |
| Ki's Kitchen Commissary | Carlsbad CA | 760-438-8606 |
| Hilton Carlsbad Oceanfront & Spa | Carlsbad CA | 760-602-0800 |
| Bernard'O Restaurant | San Diego CA | 858-487-7171 |
| Croces | San Diego CA | 619-233-4355 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Red Teardrop Cherry Tomatoes. One
is easiest, three is harder.
