Sungreen Cherry Tomatoes
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Description/Taste
Sungreen Cherry tomatoes are bite-sized tomatoes. They have a smooth, round shape that can grow up to 2.5 centimeters wide and weigh just 1 ounce. Their vibrant hue can range from a rich lime to an almost neon green. Their skin may have faint, translucent stripes going from the bottom of the tomato to the spiky green stem. Sungreen Cherry tomatoes have a juicy, meaty flesh with a vibrant light green hue surrounding gel pockets with tiny yellow seeds. Sungreen Cherry tomatoes have a fresh, dynamic aroma that combines sweet and earthy scents with notes of tanginess and acidity. It has a candy-sweet taste paired with a slight zestiness.
Seasons/Availability
Sungreen Cherry tomatoes are available from mid-summer through early fall.
Current Facts
The botanical name for Sungreen Cherry tomatoes is Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme and they’re part of the Solanaceae family. Cherry tomatoes are a subgroup variety that varies from traditionally sized tomatoes, causing them to be further botanically identified as var. Cerasiforme. As a recently developed variety, the biggest barrier in the commercialization of Sungreen Cherry tomatoes was the skepticism over their unusual green color, a hue that's largely associated with unripe fruit. Green tomatoes get their color because they have a higher concentration of Solanina. This substance is a natural fungicide that prevents animals and other organisms from consuming the tomatoes as these creatures are trained to see the traditional red color of tomatoes as an indication of freshness. Nonetheless, Sungreen Cherry tomatoes are safe to eat. Sungreen Cherry tomatoes are distinctly sweet, with a Brix degree of 9 to 10. The Brix scale quantifies sugar content, and most tomatoes rank around 3.5 to 5.5, making this variety notably sweeter.
Nutritional Value
Though the precise nutritional value of Sungreen Cherry tomatoes isn’t specifically known, Cherry tomatoes, in general, are high in vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins can help with eye, skin, and immune health and collagen production. Cherry tomatoes contain folate, calcium, manganese, phosphorus, and potassium, nutrients that help with red blood cell formation, muscle and nerve function, metabolism, bone development, dental health, energy production, and cellular function. Cherry tomatoes have carotenoids that can support eye and brain health and may potentially protect against heart disease and cancer. Cherry tomatoes are a good source of fiber, which helps with digestion and increases feelings of fullness. The nutrients in Cherry tomatoes may help manage cholesterol and prevent blood clots, potentially reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Their high levels of lycopene and beta-carotene may lower the risk of prostate and breast cancer. The carotenoids, polyphenols, and antioxidants found in Cherry tomatoes can help protect the skin from UV damage, potentially reducing signs of aging.
Applications
Sungreen Cherry tomatoes can be eaten fresh, roasted, cooked, pickled, or fried. They can be combined with a variety of multi-colored Cherry tomatoes for a colorful salad or pasta dish. Sungreen Cherry tomatoes can be sliced in half, tossed with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and roasted in the oven. They can be used to make a Cherry tomato relish, creamy tomato soup, diced green salsa, green tomato jam, or cucumber salad. Sungreen Cherry tomatoes can be used as an ingredient in tarts, pizzas, pasta, curry, chicken roulade, and toasted caprese sandwiches. They pair well with ingredients like mozzarella, feta cheese, parmesan, basil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, zucchini, avocados, corn, watermelon, lentils, apples, mint, dill, and arugula. Store Sungreen Cherry tomatoes at room temperature until fully ripe. Then refrigerate them to prevent further ripening and slow down the decay process.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Sungreen Cherry tomatoes were developed by the Tokita Seed Company in Japan and released in 2011. The company’s philosophy is, “breeding innovation and not breeding copies,” a sentiment that holds true with this variety. After its initial release, Sungreen Cherry tomatoes were nominated for the Fruit Logisitica Innovation Award in 2012. The focus markets for this variety are currently in Europe, America, and Japan, though the Tokita Seed Company plans to take Sungreen Cherry tomatoes into other markets. In 1970s Israel, scientists created these tomatoes to be sweeter, more uniform in size, and to have longer shelf lives than traditional tomatoes. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is cited as engineering the Cherry tomato we’ve come to know and mass-produced its seeds to be grown in large quantities.
Geography/History
Sungreen Cherry tomatoes were initially developed in Japan though they have been spread to other places within the Western world. They grow best in warm climates with moist soils and full sun exposure. As a breed developed to showcase certain characteristics, Sungreen Cherry tomatoes are not found in the wild and are instead cultivated for commercial production or grown in home gardens. The unique color and distinctly sweet taste of Sungreen Cherry tomatoes led to its increase in popularity and it has now been through trial and testing in the United States, Italy, France, and Japan. Despite this, Sungreen Cherry tomatoes are an obscure variety in most parts of the world. Outside of Japan, where they can be found in many markets and grocery stores, they may be infrequently found at specialty stores, farmers markets, and grown in home gardens.
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