Sunset Falls Plum Tomato
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Sunset Falls tomatoes are a small, plum variety with bi-colored skin. They weigh about 28 to 57 grams and measure 30 to 90 centimeters tall. Most Sunset Falls tomatoes have an oval shape typical of plum varieties, often with pointed ends at the bottom. They are known for their variegated bright red skin with jagged orange and yellow vertical stripes. This skin is soft, shiny, and smooth. The flesh of Sunset Falls tomatoes is bright red with a succulent juicy texture and large seed pockets containing small white seeds. They have a mild flavor with a notably sweet taste.
Seasons/Availability
Sunset Falls tomatoes are available in the summer.
Current Facts
Sunset Falls tomatoes are botanically classified as Solanum lycopersicum and belong to the Solanaceae family, which also includes eggplants and potatoes. Sunset Falls tomatoes are an F1 hybrid variety, produced through a controlled, man-made method of pollination. F1 hybrids are bred by deliberately crossing two stable seed lines which are known as inbred lines. These lines produce uniform offspring with specific traits like unique coloration and good yields. Hybrids tend to be more robust, disease-resistant, and better able to overcome adverse growing conditions. Sunset Falls tomato plants are a determinate bush variety, which means they grow to a compact height and ripen all at once. This variety works in gardens with limited space as they perform well in containers and hanging baskets.
Nutritional Value
Sunset Falls tomatoes have about the same nutritional value of all other tomato varieties. They are a good source of vitamin C, a nutrient that boosts the immune system, enhances iron absorption, and supports skin health. The potassium content in these tomatoes helps regulate blood pressure and maintain fluid balance. They also contain vitamin K, playing a crucial role in blood clotting and bone health. Tomatoes provide the body with folate, a nutrient that supports cell division and DNA synthesis, processes that are particularly beneficial during pregnancy. They are a significant source of lycopene, a red pigment and powerful antioxidant that helps reduce bad cholesterol, macular degeneration, inflammation, and bone loss. Lycopene also maintains healthy blood sugar levels and cognitive function. Beta-carotene, which gives Sunset Falls tomatoes the orange color that shows up on their stripes, is an antioxidant that the body converts into vitamin A, supporting vision, skin health, and immune function.
Applications
Sunset Falls tomatoes are consumed fresh, sundried, cooked, or roasted. They’re often quartered and tossed into salads and salsas or served on vegetable platters. This variety can be grilled for sandwiches, kebabs, bruschetta, chunky pasta sauces, and grilled tomato basil salads. Their small size makes it easy to toss them into omelets, tacos, nachos, casseroles, and soups. Sunset Falls tomatoes can be cooked with herbs to be served alongside savory entrées like roasted chicken, grilled shrimp, steak, salmon, and swordfish. This variety pairs well with limes, avocados, red onions, cilantro, parsley, oregano, thyme, chives, peppers, feta cheese, Kalamata olives, beans, potatoes, horseradish, sesame seeds, and anchovies. Store Sunset Falls tomatoes at room temperature until ripe and then refrigerate to keep them fresh.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
The Sunset Falls variety couldn't have been made without the work of Augustinian monk and botanist Gregor Mendels. He laid the groundwork for fruit and vegetable hybridization when he started cross-breading pea plants to understand plant heredity. He discovered how genetic traits are passed from one generation to the next and learned to selectively breed plants for specific traits, such as flavor, disease resistance, yield, and adaptability to different climates. This knowledge made it possible to develop hybrids like Sunset Falls tomatoes, which are tailored for specific purposes. Some hybrids mature quickly for shorter growing seasons, while others are designed for higher yields in limited spaces. Sunset Falls tomatoes were likely bred for the latter, making them ideal for small gardens.
Geography/History
Sunset Falls is a variety derived from plum tomatoes, a class of tomatoes that have been bred for centuries to have fewer seeds and a meatier texture. Plum tomatoes were likely discovered in the early 1900s when breeders started noticing the growth of oval and grape-shaped tomatoes, distinguished by a constriction at the ends of the fruits. Sunset Falls tomatoes grow best in warm climates with full sun exposure and cannot tolerate frost. They are a hybrid variety that does not grow in the wild and is instead mostly cultivated in gardens. Sunset Falls tomatoes are a rare variety typically purchased as seeds for home gardeners to plant rather than as fresh fruit in stores.
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