A Tomato Hall of Fame

"Tied for MVP are (Benevento Tomato™), a gorgeous striped slicer (that some might incorrectly call an heirloom); and Green Bee, a unique cherry tomato that stays green and crunchy when ripe. Insiders also have their eye on Marzano Fire, a sturdy sauce-type tomato (also good for eating fresh) that leaves Roma in the dust and even gives the Italian San Marzano a run for its money. All three F1 hybrids were created by plant breeder and Artisan Seeds founder Fred Hempel,who unexpectedly stepped away from the earth on October 31, 2023, at the all-too-early age of 63.

“His tomatoes are eye-catchingly pretty. People will enter your stand at the farmers’ market because you’ve got them out front,” says Matthew Sylvester of Happy Acre Farm, who continues to grow quite a few of Hempel’s tomatoes, peppers, and mustards on the farm’s acres adjacent to Hempel’s larger plot at the Sunol AgPark. Hempel was the first farmer to sign up when the AgPark was established in 2006 as an education-oriented space for small farmers who follow organic practices."

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"Discover the journey of our tomatoes and why they earned a spot in 'A Tomato Hall of Fame' by Edible East Bay. Read the full article here." 

Article by Cheryl Angelina Koehler