Tomatoes are available year-round, however in-season tomatoes aren’t just any ol’ tomatoes. Ripe off the vine, in-season tomatoes are juicy and full of vibrant flavor. In other words, they actually taste like tomatoes, instead of hint of tomato flavor.
Sliced for sandwiches, chopped for salads, or oven-roasted, in-season tomatoes, in all their delicious glory, are best from mid-July through mid-September.
Grape Tomatoes
Oval or oblong and meatier with thicker skin, grape tomatoes are crisp and crunchy, and range in flavor from tangy to sweet. Grape tomatoes most delicious for:
- Snacking
- Salads
- Stews and soups
- Roasting, grilling, sautéing
Cherry Tomatoes
Bite-size and available in a variety of colors from yellow and green to purple and red, cherry tomatoes are generally sweeter and add a pop of color and a burst of flavor to your favorite dishes. Cherry tomatoes best for:
- Snacking
- Salads
- Sauces
- Roasting and grilling
Campari (or Cocktail) Tomatoes
Sweet and fruity, and shipped with their vines still attached, Campari tomatoes are thin-skinned, meaty in texture, and well-balanced in sugar and acid, which allows them to cook particularly well in high heat. Campari tomatoes are best used for:
- Salads
- Sauces
- Roasting and grilling
Roma Tomatoes
Tangy and fresh, the classic Italian plum tomato is meaty, firm in texture, and low in water content, with fewer seeds. Roma tomatoes are delicious raw and cooked, especially in:
- Salads
- Sandwiches
- Sauces
- Stews
Red Beefsteak Tomatoes
Large, meaty, and mild in flavor, red beefsteak tomatoes contain higher water content for extra juicy goodness. Red beefsteak tomatoes complement many dishes without being too intense or overpowering, and are great in:
- Sandwiches
- Sauces
- Base for dips and salsas
- Roasting and grilling
Heirloom Tomatoes
Lacking genetic mutation, Heirloom tomatoes are the purest form of tomatoes, and come in all shapes, sizes, and flavors, with many farmers and gardeners saving seeds to pass from one generation to the next—hence their name.
Ranging from sweet to tangy, popular heirloom tomatoes include Brandywine, Green Zebra, Sungold, Yellow Pear, Cherokee, and Garden Peach, and are the perfect addition to just about any dish, including:
- Salads
- Sandwiches
- Roasting and grilling