This website uses cookies, pixels, and other tracking technologies to personalize content, analyze how our site and apps are used, and create aggregated statistics.
We disclose data about site and app users to third parties so we can target our ads to you on other websites, and those third parties may use that data for their own purposes.
For more information on how we collect, use, and disclose this information, please review our
Privacy Policy.
Continued use of this site means you consent to our Privacy Policy.
The Pink Brandywine tomato is a classic beefsteak slicing tomato that is legendary for its delicious, rich, old-fashioned tomato taste, and has often been christened as “the best-tasting tomato in the world.” The oblate shaped fruit has ribbed shoulders and is dark-pink in color, though even when fully ripe it can have green shoulders near the stem. Its pinkish flesh is meaty and extremely flavorful. The indeterminate, or vining tomato plant grows upright to an average of three to nine feet tall, and it is distinguished from other tomato cultivars by its dark green potato-leaved foliage, which is smooth and oval with a pointy tip, as compared to the serrated edges of a regular-leaf cultivar. The large plants of the Pink Brandywine tomato require staking for support as they can bear fruit up to two pounds, with one or two fruit per cluster. It is among the slowest maturing varieties of tomatoes as its production is light during mid-season and increases later into the summer. The Pink Brandywine is sought after for it's flavor and texture as opposed to durability, as its thin skin is prone to cracking and cannot withstand long-distance shipping.
Seasons/Availability
Pink Brandywine tomatoes are available in late summer.
Current Facts
Tomatoes are members of the Solanaceae or nightshade family, and are botanically referred to as Solanum lycopersicum. Brandywine tomatoes come in many delectable and colorful varieties in addition to the Pink Brandywine, including red, yellow, and black varieties. However, there are several tomatoes that get labeled as Brandywine that are not in fact related, and because of the many misidentified varieties, this pink-fruited, potato-leaved Brandywine tomato may be more specifically referred to as Pink Brandywine "Sudduth's Strain.” Sudduth’s Strain is known as the original Pink Brandywine strain, and many claim that it is the best American heirloom variety on the market.
Nutritional Value
Tomatoes are packed with the antioxidant vitamins A and C, as well as potassium and B vitamins, which are important for heart health. However, tomatoes are most widely known for their concentration of a powerful carotenoid called lycopene. This phytonutrient, which is responsible for the red pigmentation of tomatoes, has been studied for its role in fighting various cancers, as well as its ability to lower cholesterol levels.
Applications
Pink Brandywine tomatoes have a rich, slightly sweet yet spicy old-fashioned tomato flavor that has been prized for decades. They are delicious eaten raw, but they can also be sautéed, grilled, stewed, and used in numerous dishes. Tomatoes pair particularly well with savory herbs and soft cheeses. As a beefsteak type tomato, Pink Brandywine is great for slicing. Use either a serrated knife or very sharp non-serrated knife, prick the skin to get a slice going, and cut lengthwise from the stem to blossom end to retain more juice in each slice. Store your tomatoes at room temperature until fully ripe, after which refrigeration can slow the process of decay.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Brandywine tomatoes are known as one of the most popular heirloom cultivars in home gardens throughout the United States. The Pink Brandywine is credited with bringing heirloom tomatoes back into popularity after the rise of hybridization in the twentieth century, and since their reintroduction to the American market in the 1980s, there have been many Brandywine sub-strains created through selection and cross-breeding.
Geography/History
Though the Brandywine’s history is not altogether clear, legend has it that the Pink Brandywine tomato came to the attention of today’s gardeners in 1982 when the Seed Savers Exchange received Pink Brandywine tomato seeds from Ohio gardener, Ben Quisenberry. Quisenberry allegedly received the seeds from Dorris Sudduth Hill of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, whose family had been growing Brandywine tomatoes and saving its seeds since the 1800s. It is not known whether the family originally saved the seed from a commercial variety, or if it was brought to the United States from overseas. Nonetheless, the Pink Brandywine tomato is considered an American heirloom. It is often also said that Brandywine is of Amish origin, perhaps because there is a Brandywine River in the state of Pennsylvania where the Amish population is high, however there is no evidence to absolutely confirm this claim. The pink Brandywine tomato has very thin skin, disqualifying it as a good shipping tomato, and hence it is not often seen in markets far from where it was grown. The timing for sowing and planting outside is key to successfully grow tomatoes because they are not at all hardy and cannot tolerate any frost.
From Valdivia Family Farm…Pink Brandywine Tomato: Renowned for its dark-pink oblate fruit and exceptional flavor, this tomato grows on tall indeterminate plants with smooth, potato-like leaves. Reaching up to nine feet, the plants bear two-pound fruits that mature later in the season. Though prized for taste, its thin skin makes it ideal for local enjoyment rather than transport.
From Valdivia Family Farm…Pink Brandywine tomatoes are prized for their old-fashioned flavor, which combines slightly sweet and spicy notes. For optimal slicing, use a sharp or serrated knife to avoid losing the fruit's juices, cutting lengthwise from stem to blossom. Room-temperature storage is best until ripe, after which refrigeration helps slow decay. These tomatoes are versatile enough for raw consumption, sautéing, grilling, stewing, or pairing with savory herbs and soft cheeses.
From Valdivia Farms…Tomatoes belong to the nightshade family, Solanaceae, and are botanically named Solanum lycopersicum. Brandywine tomatoes, including the original Pink Brandywine "Sudduth's Strain," are heralded as an exceptional heirloom variety. Tomatoes are nutrient-rich with vitamins A and C, potassium, and lycopene, a carotenoid linked to cancer prevention and cholesterol reduction, while giving them their striking red color.
From JR Organics…Pink Brandywine Tomato: This American heirloom tomato has an interesting history tied to Ohio gardener Ben Quisenberry and seeds he received in 1982 from Dorris Sudduth Hill of Tennessee, whose family had grown this variety since the 1800s. Known for its delicate, thin skin, it isn't ideal for shipping and thus remains a regional market favorite. While some attribute its origins to the Amish in Pennsylvania, there is no definitive evidence to confirm this link.
Valdivia Farms
Carlsbad, CA
Brandywine tomatoes are widely recognized as a favorite heirloom variety in home gardens across the U.S. The Pink Brandywine played a significant role in reviving interest in heirloom tomatoes, especially after the dominance of hybrids in the 20th century. Their reemergence in the 1980s spurred the creation of numerous sub-strains, developed through selective breeding and cross-pollination, adding to their rich diversity.
Valdivia Farms
Carlsbad, CA
Pink Brandywine Tomato: This tomato variety is admired for its rich, old-fashioned flavor, often considered "the best-tasting tomato in the world." Its plant can grow between three and nine feet tall and features unique potato-shaped foliage. Known for its meaty texture, the fruit can weigh up to two pounds but has thin, crack-prone skin, making it ideal for local use rather than lengthy shipping.
JR Organics
Escondido, CA
Pink Brandywine tomatoes are beloved for their rich, slightly sweet yet spicy flavor, making them ideal for raw consumption or versatile cooking methods like grilling, stewing, or sautéing. They pair beautifully with savory herbs and soft cheeses. As beefsteak tomatoes, they excel in slicing; cutting lengthwise minimizes juice loss. For freshness, store them at room temperature until ripe, then refrigerate to slow decay.
Valdivia Farms
Carlsbad, CA
Tomatoes: Tomatoes are part of the nightshade family and are classified as Solanum lycopersicum. They are rich in vitamins A and C, potassium, B vitamins, and lycopene—a carotenoid responsible for their red color. Lycopene is noted for its potential health benefits, such as aiding cancer prevention and reducing cholesterol. Among heirlooms, the Pink Brandywine "Sudduth's Strain" is valued as one of the finest American varieties for its flavor and lineage.
Valdivia Farms
Carlsbad, CA
Pink Brandywine tomatoes are a cherished American heirloom with a history tracing back to seeds shared by Ohio gardener Ben Quisenberry in 1982. They are prized for their thin skin and delicate flavor, though their fragility makes them unsuitable for long-distance shipping. Allegedly originating from seeds preserved by a Tennessee family since the 1800s, their exact heritage is murky, with some even linking them to Amish roots, though this connection remains unproven.
Valdivia Farms
Carlsbad, CA
Brandywine tomatoes are celebrated as one of the most widely grown heirloom varieties in American home gardens. The Pink Brandywine, in particular, played a significant role in reviving interest in heirloom tomatoes after hybrids gained prominence in the 20th century. Since their return to popularity in the 1980s, numerous Brandywine sub-strains have been developed through selective breeding and cross-breeding efforts.