Heirloom tomatoes are open-pollinated, non-hybrid cultivars of the nightshade genus.
Heirloom tomatoes are some of the world’s most colorful produce, ranging from bright reds and yellows to deep greens, purples and even chocolatey browns.
They also produce dramatically higher amounts of sugars, giving heirlooms a sweet taste.
The sad truth about heirloom farming is that not every one of these precious babies makes it to market, with plenty of fruit succumbing to disease or insects along the way.
Heirlooms don’t have a long shelf life, so they should be eaten as close to the moment they are plucked from the vine as possible.