ITHACA — A brand new high-flavor, shelf-stable grape tomato is the newest selection launched from Cornell University aimed toward small farmers, natural growers and residential gardeners.
Moonshadow, a deeply pigmented purplish-red, rectangular tomato, was bred utilizing conventional crossing strategies and derived from a cross between a black grape tomato and a high-flavor orange grape tomato. It is the sixth selection within the Galaxy Suite, a colourful, multi-shaped group of medley grape tomatoes bred by Phillip Griffiths, affiliate professor within the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell AgriTech.
“There’s increasing consumer interest in foods that are unique, aesthetically pleasing and colorful,” Mr. Griffiths mentioned in a Cornell information launch. “Farmers markets have been expanding considerably, and consumers who shop at these markets want both local produce and products not typically available in supermarkets. The market for small-fruited, single-bite medley types is increasing, and it has huge potential going forward.”
Even within the small-fruited market courses, growers typically favor greater tomatoes which are simpler and quicker to reap and bundle, Mr. Griffiths mentioned. Meanwhile, customers appear to want one-bite cherry tomatoes; nonetheless, many cherries have points with fruit pores and skin splitting on the vine or after harvest. Mr. Griffiths needed to discover a joyful medium: small-fruited, high-flavor tomatoes, as customers want, with better shelf-stability and after-harvest high quality.
Moonshadow is now accessible for pre-order, for spring 2022 planting, from High Mowing Organic Seeds.