Tomatoes are not my favorite thing about the summer (Messy's the bigger tomato fan), but good god do I love me a nice heirloom tomato. It was a bad year for lots of produce in the region (strawberries and cherries in particular), but it was a horrendous year for tomatoes. If you haven't heard or read about the late blight which came very early this year, I'll direct you to these two articles from the NY Times and this post from a friend of mine who has a small plot at his home just outside of Philly. Sad.
But not all was lost this year at the Farmstand. Above is a shot of an heirloom glacier tomato from Rineer Farm in Pequea Valley, Lancaster County. These good sized heirlooms are closely related to the smaller, rounder green zebra tomato. These tomatoes, as you can see above, have some incredible colors. Green, red and yellow swirls throughout. Heirlooms are much meatier with less seeds. This particular tomato is very low in acid as well.
I happily munched on a few slices of this beauty at the Farmstand and we have one on the kitchen counter at home right now just waiting to be torn into. But they don't come cheap. They're $5/lbs at the Farmstand – we've had a handful of $7 single tomatoes this year. You might be able to find them a little cheaper at market around town (Daryl is at the Tuesday/Saturday Rittenhouse Market, Thursday Jefferson Hospital Market and most likely some others I can't think of right now. I'm not sure if other farmers in the area also grow the same varietal. Happy eating! The tomato season is just about over now. I hope the weather's better next year for a more bountiful harvest (which will lead to lower prices!).
Fair Food Farmstand
Tu – Sat: 8a – 6p
Su: 9a – 5p
Mon: Closed, but starting October 5, 8a – 6p
215.627.2029
Reading Terminal Market
12th & Arch Sts
That's not a "Glacier" Tomato. They are smallish and red.