pre-game OT:Anyone else grow the special Rutgers 250 Tomato this year?

[DHajekRC84]

Ag Station sold the seeds for this variety they brought back special (it was the Original Rutgers Tomato) as well as the Ramapo and a version made special for Campbell's.

Mine just started in about 3 weeks ago but they are pretty cool. Come off vine much softer and have neat ridges on bottom that make it a little like a gourd. Very tasty.

 

[MYHATINTHERING]

why is no longer grown commercially if it had so much success? seems odd

http://njfarmfresh.rutgers.edu/whatabouttherutgerstomato.htm

 

[PhilaPhans]

We have hundreds of acres of tomatoes, and honestly, we just don't think it's a great tomato, so we don't grow it.

People ask for it a lot, but right now we're sticking with mostly Primo Reds.

 

[CERU00]

This is not the whole story... The original Rutgers tomato was changed over the yeard. It was never kept pure genetically. None of the changes were made using flavor as a key metric.

 

[MYHATINTHERING]

We have hundreds of acres of tomatoes, and honestly, we just don't think it's a great tomato, so we don't grow it.

People ask for it a lot, but right now we're sticking with mostly Primo Reds.

I'm not following

If it was a commercially grown tomato, with great success, how was it not viewed as having flavor?

 

[PhilaPhans]

Most round red tomatoes don't have much taste, if that's what you're asking. To get real tomato taste, you're better off growing heirlooms like a Brandywine or a Cherokee Purple.

If that's not what you're asking, feel free to clarify. Your original question is "Why is no longer grown commercially if it had so much success?" and my answer would be because there are better tasting "regular red" tomatoes out there than the Rutgers.

 

[DHajekRC84]

Most round red tomatoes don't have much taste, if that's what you're asking. To get real tomato taste, you're better off growing heirlooms like a Brandywine or a Cherokee Purple.

If that's not what you're asking, feel free to clarify. Your original question is "Why is no longer grown commercially if it had so much success?" and my answer would be because there are better tasting "regular red" tomatoes out there than the Rutgers.

Phila? Have you tried (what I think is) this original version they brought back? Not suggesting you should go plants your fields just wondering if you find this one different?
it is not that perfectly round hard body fruit. (I know what you mean, many times I prefer a plum version for taste)....however as I noted in my orig comments I find this one soft and pretty sweet. (I had a couple pics to post but I just keep forgetting the easy way to insert them).

 

[PhilaPhans]

I'm not the actual farmer (it's my cousins and their family who run it). I'm actually a Cost Accountant. I mostly help out at the farmers markets and stuff on the weekends. When I talk to my uncle, he says they just shy away from them. I don't know if he's tried the newer ones yet.

On a small side plot, we grow maybe 20-30 different varieties of tomatoes. Heirlooms, plums, another regular, cherries (tomatoes), grapes (tomatoes), and even some ground cherries (tomato-ish). Best tasting tomato we have is probably a Sun Sugar cherry tomato. Super sweet and great to snack on or make a salad with.