Podcast
Food Buzz: History of Tomatoes |
Description/Taste
Green tomatoes have light to dark lime green skin and are extremely firm. They range in size depending on the variety and can be anywhere from 4 to 10 centimeters in diameter and can be very round or plumper with broad shoulders. The flesh is bright chartreuse and has a very firm center with tiny, underdeveloped seeds. Green tomatoes offer a crisp and mildly juicy texture. They have a sharp, puckering, astringent flavor with a slight sweetness.
Seasons/Availability
Green tomatoes are available year-round with a peak season in the summer and fall months.
Current Facts
Green tomatoes were famously re-introduced to the culinary scene after the release of the early 1990s movie, Fried Green Tomatoes, based on the book by Fannie Flagg. They are the immature or unripe fruits of any variety of tomato and are botanicallyified as Solanum lycopersicum or Lycopersicon esculentum. Green tomatoes are generally sourced from the large “slicer” type tomatoes since they are easier to use than smaller cultivars. Although farmer’s markets and specialty stores may carry other varieties of Green tomatoes.
Nutritional Value
Green tomatoes contain antioxidants, vitamins A, C, and K, as well as iron, phosphorous, and other minerals. Green tomatoes also contain all the essential B-complex vitamins. Green tomatoes contain the alkaloid tomatine which is being researched for its potentially cancer fighting properties. The compound is only found in the green parts of the tomato plant and as the fruits ripen, their levels of tomatine decrease.
Applications
Green tomatoes are used raw and cooked. They are sliced and battered in cornmeal and fried for their signature dish. They are also pickled, cooked into sauces, made into relishes or ketchup, and baked. Add sliced Green tomatoes to sandwiches or dice and use in rice or risotto recipes and for fritters or quick breads. They can be used as a substitute for sour green apples in recipes and have just enough sweetness to be a surprising and tasty ingredient in a traditional apple-based dessert. Store Green tomatoes at room temperature until ready to use, refrigerating will extend shelf life. Keep cut, unused portions in the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Despite its reputation as a staple of southern cuisine, the green tomato’s modern use in the kitchen seems to have originated in the Midwestern United States. The first published recipe for fried green tomatoes was printed in Chicago’s “The Daily ter Ocean” in 1877. Around the same time, other publications began to promote the Green tomato, giving gardeners a use for what was formerly considered waste. Green tomatoes remained popular throughout the first half of the 20th century, after wir use began to decline. Their popularity surged again after the release of the film ‘Fried Green Tomatoes’ in 1991 and they’ve continued to appear on menus and at farmer’s markets around the country.
Geography/History
Tomatoes, like their botanical cousin, the potato, originated in the South American Andes. They were first cultivated around 700 C.E. in South and Central America by the Mayans and Incas. After their arrival in the 15th century, Spanish conquistught tomato seeds back to Europe, where the French called it “the apple of love” and Germans named it “the apple of paradise.” Despite its use and admiration in Europe, it wasn’t until Thomas Jefferson began growing the fruit as a food crop is Monticello estate that the tomato began showing up in the American kitchen. Today tomatoes are the world’s most consumed fruit before bananas and watermelons. Green tomatoes are most likely spotted at farmer’s markets, specialty stores and on seasonal menus in temperate regions world-wide.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
The Lion Share | San Diego CA | 619-564-6924 |
Brigantine La Mesa | La Mesa CA | 619-465-1935 |
Streetcar Merchants | San Diego CA | 858-382-4087 |
Portside Pier (Brigantine) | San Diego CA | 858-268-1030 |
Brigantine Escondido | Escondido CA | 760-743-4718 |
Brigantine Imperial Beach | Imperial Beach CA | 619-591-1350 |
You & Yours Distilling (Kitchen) | San Diego CA | 214-693-6619 |
Copper Kings | Oceanside CA | 323-810-1662 |
Brigantine Pt Loma | San Diego CA | 619-224-2871 |
Flying Pig Pub & Kitchen | Oceanside CA | 619-990-0158 |
Mission Pacific | Oceanside CA | 760-450-7864 |
Wheat & Water | La Jolla CA | 858-291-8690 |
Now Sushi | San Diego CA | 858-246-6179 |
Lumi (Bar) | San Diego CA | 619-955-5750 |
Farmer and The Seahorse | San Diego CA | 619-302-3682 |
Avant | San Diego CA | 858-675-8505 |
Brigantine Coronado | Coronado CA | 619-435-4166 |
Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District | El Cajon CA | 619-644-7585 |
Campfire | Carlsbad CA | 760-637-5121 |
Claire's on Cedros - SKSB | Solana Beach CA | 858-259-8597 |
the other 8...
Brigantine Poway | Poway CA | 858-486-3066 |
Brigantine Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-481-1166 |
Del Mar Country Club | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-5500 x207 |
Kettner Exchange | San Diego CA | 909-915-9877 |
Black Radish | San Diego CA | 619-775-7412 |
Farmers Bottega | San Diego CA | 619-306-8963 |
Carte Hotel | San Diego CA | 619-365-1858 |
Little Lion | San Diego CA | 619-519-4079 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Green Tomatoes. One
Foodie Crush | | Fried Green Tomatoes Grilled Cheese Sandwich |
Eat Good 4 LIfe | | Easy Fried Green Tomatotes |
She Likes Food | | Green Tomato Southwestern Panzanella Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing |
White on Rice Couple | | Pickled Green Tomatoes |
Taming of the Spoon | | Fried Green Tomatoes with Avocados and Poached Eggs |
Wonky Wonderful | | Green Tomato Salsa Verde |
A Couple Cooks | | Green Tomato Tartines |
F for Food | | Fried Green Tomato Benedict with Smithfield Ham & Pimiento Cheese Hollandaise |
Heather Christo | | Spicy BLT Green Bloody Marys |
Kalyn's Kitchen | | Oven-Fried Green Tomatoes with Sriracha-Ranch Dipping Sauce |
the other 13...
Closet Cooking | | Blackened Shrimp and Fried Green Tomato Po Boy Salad |
Table for Two | | Fried Green Tomatoes |
Drum Beets | | Savory Green Tomato Cobbler |
Wonky Wonderful | | Fried Green Tomato Pie |
Love & Olive Oil | | Pickled Green Tomatoes |
Eats Well with Others | | Braised Short Ribs with Pickled Green Tomatoes and Polenta with Blue Cheese and Garlicky Chard |
Nourished Kitchen | | Fermented Green Tomatoes and Hot Peppers |
Cooking Books | | Green Tomato and Leek Frittata |
Corner Cottage Bakery | | Green Tomato Galette |
Love Food Eat | | Green Tomato, Star Fruit and Avocado Salad |
Healing Tomato | | Green Tomato Crumble Pie |
Food Republic | | Fried Green Tomato Sandwich with Bacon and Chutney |
Host The Toast | | Fried Green Tomatoes with Goat Cheese and Roasted Red Pepper Vinaigrette |
Recently Shared
People have shared Green Tomatoes using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.
Produce Sharing allows you to share your produce discoveries with your neighbors and the world! Is your market carrying green dragon apples? Is a chef doing things with shaved fennel that are out of this world? Pinpoint your location annonymously through the Specialty Produce App and let others know about unique flavors that are around them.
Valdivia Farms Near Santa Monica, California, United StatesAbout 29 days ago, 8/31/22 Sharer's comments : Green Tomatoes from Valdivia Farms
About 157 days ago, 4/25/22 Sharer's comments : Green Tomatoes from Valdivia Farms
About 263 days ago, 1/09/22 Sharer's comments : Green Tomatoes from Valdivia Farms
Valdivia Farms About 263 days ago, 1/09/22
Valdivia Farms About 322 days ago, 11/10/21
Valdivia Farms About 342 days ago, 10/22/21
SpecialtyProduce About 377 days ago, 9/17/21 Sharer's comments : Green tomatoes from Valdivia farm
Simply Farm About 448 days ago, 7/08/21 Sharer's comments : Can't beat fried green tomatoes!!
SpecialtyProduce About 459 days ago, 6/27/21 Sharer's comments : Green tomatoes
Wong Farms Near Santa Monica, California, United StatesAbout 526 days ago, 4/21/21
About 528 days ago, 4/19/21 Sharer's comments : Green tomatoes from Fresno Evergreens
About 542 days ago, 4/05/21 Sharer's comments : Green tomatoes from Valdivia Farms
About 556 days ago, 3/22/21 Sharer's comments : Green tomatoes from Valdivia Farms |