15 Ag & Culinary Pros Share Their Favorite Heirloom Tomatoes

[mf_h2 align=”left” transform=”uppercase”]GREEN ENVY[/mf_h2]

“Edible perfection. This emerald-green cherry tomato produces tons of fruit all summer long.” – Venelin Dimitrov, Senior Product Manager, Burpee; Warminster, PA

[mf_h2 align=”left” transform=”uppercase”]BIG RAINBOW[/mf_h2]

“This beefsteak makes a damn good Bloody Mary.” – Anthony Sasso, Executive Chef, La Sirena; New York City

Related: How to Trellis Tomatoes Fast with a Florida Weave

[mf_h2 align=”left” transform=”uppercase”]AUNT RUBY’S GERMAN GREEN[/mf_h2]

“Fried green tomatoes, OMG! I live in the South, so this beefsteak tops my list.” – Kevin Mitchell, Chef/Instructor, Culinary Institute of Charleston; Charleston, SC

[mf_h2 align=”left” transform=”uppercase”]BRAD’S ATOMIC GRAPE[/mf_h2]

“A super-tasty psychedelic wonder that comes hard and quick in 75 days.” – Aimee Olexy, Co-owner, The Love; Philadelphia

Related: How to Grow Your Own Tomatoes, Part 1: Starting Seeds Indoors

[mf_h2 align=”left” transform=”uppercase”]PINEAPPLE[/mf_h2]

“Extra-large with a consistently moist center, ‘Pineapple’ beefsteak is one stunning specimen.” – Kurt Timmermeister, Owner, Kurtwood Farms and Kurt Farm Shop; Vashon Island, WA, and Seattle

[mf_h2 align=”left” transform=”uppercase”]BANANA LEGS[/mf_h2]

“New-to-me varieties with quirky names always prove hard to resist, but these won me over with their low acidity and unique candelabra-bulb form.” – Ilene Rosen, Co-owner, R&D Foods; Brooklyn

Related: How to Grow Your Own Tomatoes, Part 2: Transplanting

[mf_h2 align=”left” transform=”uppercase”]CARBON[/mf_h2]

“The most reliable and flavorful purple beef- steak, hands down.” – Peter Zuck, Vegetable Product Manager, Johnny’s Selected Seeds; Winslow, ME

[mf_h2 align=”left” transform=”uppercase”]GERMAN YELLOW[/mf_h2]

“Our go-to beefsteak has the perfect
wide stance for sandwich filling.” – Matt Lee and Ted Lee, Founders, The Lee Bros. Boiled Peanuts Catalogue; Charleston, SC

Related: How to Grow Your Own Tomatoes, Part 3: Staking, Training and Pruning

[mf_h2 align=”left” transform=”uppercase”]BLACK BEAUTY[/mf_h2]

“Created by a breeder famous for Willy Wonka”“esque varieties, this is the granddaddy of slicing tomatoes – earthy and juicy with no pucker.” – Shannon McCabe, Horticulturist and Gardening Writer, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds; Mansfield, MO

[mf_h2 align=”left” transform=”uppercase”]ROSE DE BERNE[/mf_h2]

“This slicer has long been my favorite – pinkish and incredibly sweet.” – Michael Pollan, Author, The Omnivore’s Dilemma and Cooked; Berkeley, CA

Related: How to Grow Your Own Tomatoes Part 4: Disease Prevention

[mf_h2 align=”left” transform=”uppercase”]GARDENER’S SWEETHEART[/mf_h2]

“These awesome, easy-to-grow cherry tomatoes hold on their trusses and never split!” – Lane Selman, Founder/ Director, Culinary Breeding Network; Portland, OR

[mf_h2 align=”left” transform=”uppercase”]GERMAN PINK[/mf_h2]

“This beefsteak is one of two heirlooms that started Seed Savers Exchange. The great-grandparents of our co-founder Diane Ott Whealy brought the seeds to Iowa when they emigrated from Bavaria in the 1870s.” – Alicia Chilton, Marketing and Development Manager, Seed Savers Exchange; Decorah, IA

[mf_h2 align=”left” transform=”uppercase”]KELLOG’S BREAKFAST[/mf_h2]

“Yes, I’m from Battle Creek, Michigan, where the cereal company is based. But it’s the low seed count and beautiful orange color that had me using these beef- steaks all last summer.” – Thomas Lents, Executive Chef, The Apparatus Room; Detroit

Related: From Poison to Passion: The Secret History of the Tomato

[mf_h2 align=”left” transform=”uppercase”]SAN MARZANO REDORTA[/mf_h2]

“An Italian plum tomato, ‘San Marzano Redorta’ creates wonderfully complex sauces and salsas.” – Gary “Tomato Man” Ibsen, Founder, TomatoFest; Little River, CA

[mf_h2 align=”left” transform=”uppercase”]BLONDKÖPFCHEN[/mf_h2]

“These delicious cherry tomatoes manage to reseed themselves in our Zone 3”“4 garden every year.” – Alissa Hessler, Founder, Urban Exodus; Camden, ME