9 ms·

It amazes me how North American posts always lament that there are "no good tomatoes" when Europe is full of them. So... just get those? What's with the weird t

It amazes me how North American posts always lament that there are "no good tomatoes" when Europe is full of them. So... just get those? What's with the weird tunnel vision when it comes to high quality produce here? Sure, you'll have to arrange a one time import clearance for high quality seeds, then you're set for life if you're serious about a tasty home grown tomato.

sametmax 9y ago
Actually most tomatoes in Europe suck as well. You'd be very lucky to find any in a supermarket, except in the summer if you live in the proper location. The trick is that what most people think is a great tomato is not, they never tasted one. They think they have good ones when they eat one that's ok. A tomato is not supposed to be "ok". It's suppose to be "omg I want to make my whole lunch out of only those". It seems surprising, but then again many children have never seen a cow IRL or picked up a strawberry from the ground themself. When I want great tomatoes, I have some options: - go to my local market. This requires to know your stuff, as most tomatoes are still garbage, despite the fact I leave on the Italian border. And most people around me have no idea what a good vegetable should look like. This knowledge completely disappeared, even among foodies. - buy from a local farmers cooperative or directly from small producers. This is the best solution as it's almost always good. But as a freelancer, I have the time for this. Most people don't. - buy from an organic shop. Pretty much a hit or miss, which sucks since they are very expensive, but still you have more chance to get something that in the supermarket. - grow them. My GF does that, thanks god. I'm just amazed of what people consider good product these days. The food is so messed up people settle for anything that taste ok. This is a terrible status quo. Vegetables and fruits are supposed to taste awesome. They are the best thing ever. A good tomato doesn't even need salt or oil, you can eat it like an apple. The fact so many kids hate healthy food is not a problem with the kids. It's a problem with the food. What we give them taste bad. I don't blame them for eating the ben and jerry ice cream. At least it's guarantied to taste good.
- saiya-jin 9y ago
  Get off your high horse, sir... most cheap tomatoes suck you meant. Don't expect much of a taste when tomato plant never touched soil and its fast-grown under artificial light. For example spanish ones in shops are all like this. tell sign - they are the cheapest tomatoes in shops. but you can have food chains, for example Grand Frais in France, which sells properly good ones. they look better, smell better and of course taste better. All my childhood I ate homegrown stuff all summer and autumn. Its great taste, but not THAT great as you describe, and children hating veggies has absolutely nothing to do with this, they will hate even the best ones.
jmnicolas 9y ago
Please enlighten me : I'm French and the only good tomatoes I eat are the ones my parents are growing in their garden. Unless you live next where they grow and can consume them ripe, I don't see how you can find any good tomato in the world.
bjelkeman-again 9y ago
Several relatives of mine work at a Dutch family owned seed company. They have a good company culture and they breed good tasting tomato varieties. https://www.rijkzwaanusa.com/crop/tomato https://www.rijkzwaanusa.com/crop/tomato

sametmax 9y ago

Actually most tomatoes in Europe suck as well. You'd be very lucky to find any in a supermarket, except in the summer if you live in the proper location. The trick is that what most people think is a great tomato is not, they never tasted one. They think they have good ones when they eat one that's ok. A tomato is not supposed to be "ok". It's suppose to be "omg I want to make my whole lunch out of only those". It seems surprising, but then again many children have never seen a cow IRL or picked up a strawberry from the ground themself. When I want great tomatoes, I have some options: - go to my local market. This requires to know your stuff, as most tomatoes are still garbage, despite the fact I leave on the Italian border. And most people around me have no idea what a good vegetable should look like. This knowledge completely disappeared, even among foodies. - buy from a local farmers cooperative or directly from small producers. This is the best solution as it's almost always good. But as a freelancer, I have the time for this. Most people don't. - buy from an organic shop. Pretty much a hit or miss, which sucks since they are very expensive, but still you have more chance to get something that in the supermarket. - grow them. My GF does that, thanks god. I'm just amazed of what people consider good product these days. The food is so messed up people settle for anything that taste ok. This is a terrible status quo. Vegetables and fruits are supposed to taste awesome. They are the best thing ever. A good tomato doesn't even need salt or oil, you can eat it like an apple. The fact so many kids hate healthy food is not a problem with the kids. It's a problem with the food. What we give them taste bad. I don't blame them for eating the ben and jerry ice cream. At least it's guarantied to taste good.

saiya-jin 9y ago
Get off your high horse, sir... most cheap tomatoes suck you meant. Don't expect much of a taste when tomato plant never touched soil and its fast-grown under artificial light. For example spanish ones in shops are all like this. tell sign - they are the cheapest tomatoes in shops. but you can have food chains, for example Grand Frais in France, which sells properly good ones. they look better, smell better and of course taste better. All my childhood I ate homegrown stuff all summer and autumn. Its great taste, but not THAT great as you describe, and children hating veggies has absolutely nothing to do with this, they will hate even the best ones.

jmnicolas 9y ago

Please enlighten me : I'm French and the only good tomatoes I eat are the ones my parents are growing in their garden. Unless you live next where they grow and can consume them ripe, I don't see how you can find any good tomato in the world.

bjelkeman-again 9y ago

Several relatives of mine work at a Dutch family owned seed company. They have a good company culture and they breed good tasting tomato varieties. https://www.rijkzwaanusa.com/crop/tomato https://www.rijkzwaanusa.com/crop/tomato