This week we nerd out on tomatoes (available June-October). Social distancing has made it difficult to meet new people. But, through food, I managed to socialize more than I was expecting. I’ve been corresponding weekly with a couple dozen local farmers since April to share social media updates about who will bring what to the Tuesday and Saturday Berkeley farmers markets. Although I’m immersed in these farmers markets, it’s a digital immersion more than anything because I limit outings as much as I can. But I have my weaknesses and Elephant Heart plums got me out of the house and into Tuesday’s market. And that’s how I met my new friend, Efrén.
I live in NC and have only recently learned about Dirty Girl tomatoes from Dirty Girl produce, which you mention above. Most of their tomatoes are F1 Early Girl variety, so definitely not heirloom But Joe has back crossed survivors of his dry farmed Early Girls to dehybridize them for the last 14 years. So now it is fair to say that there is at least one heirloom that can be dry farmed in the SF area.
Great article and Efren's way to grow and care for his farm and plants must be another reason behind his great flavor tomatoes. Additionally I just learned (University of Rochester Medical Center Rochester, NY) that Glutamic acid is an amino acid used to form proteins. In the body it turns into glutamate. This is a chemical that helps nerve cells in the brain send and receive information from other cells. It may be involved in learning and memory. We'll start eating more tomatoes !
I live in NC and have only recently learned about Dirty Girl tomatoes from Dirty Girl produce, which you mention above. Most of their tomatoes are F1 Early Girl variety, so definitely not heirloom But Joe has back crossed survivors of his dry farmed Early Girls to dehybridize them for the last 14 years. So now it is fair to say that there is at least one heirloom that can be dry farmed in the SF area.
Great article and Efren's way to grow and care for his farm and plants must be another reason behind his great flavor tomatoes. Additionally I just learned (University of Rochester Medical Center Rochester, NY) that Glutamic acid is an amino acid used to form proteins. In the body it turns into glutamate. This is a chemical that helps nerve cells in the brain send and receive information from other cells. It may be involved in learning and memory. We'll start eating more tomatoes !
I enjoyed your article on tomatoes, which I love!