A few days ago, I bought a tomato that was still partially green, and
obviously not completely ripe. I noticed this, because usually the
store bought tomatoes are treated with ethylene gas to "ripen" them.
Well, the gas does change their color, and may help to ripen the
tomato, but the results are not as good as time itself provides. I took
the tomato home, and put it in my fruit bowl on the kitchen table.

A few days later I noticed the tomato was no longer green. Because the
tomato was not treated with ethylene, I was able to tell that it was
getting ripe. With the gas treated tomatoes, it is not as easy to tell,
and often the tomatoes go to mush before I realise they are ripe. This
time was different. When I noticed it has changed, I was pretty sure
the tomato was ripe, and after careful experimentation (I sliced it up
and put it on a roast beef sandwhich), I was sure it was ripe. It was
also quite tastey, something I have missed about most tomatoes of late.

Now I see the insidious nature of the gas treatment. It doesn't really
do anything bad in and of itself, it just prevents me from knowing when
the tomato really is ripe. Without the treatment, I can see the tomato
as it ripens, and know when it is ripe. With the treatment, I don't
know the tomato is ripe until it starts to go bad.

The ugly tomato was the cheapest tomato they had at the store ($1.79 or
$1.59 per pound, IIRC), but turned out to be tastier than many other
tomatoes I have bought at higher prices. I'm sure many of those
expensive gas-treated tomatoes would be very good as well, but how can
I tell when they will be good ? I certainly can't tell by looking at
them, and while I could squeeze and sniff them, the color method seems
to work as well if the tomato isn't (mis-)treated with ethylene gas.

I think I'll have ugly tomatoes from now on.

Dean G.

"Dean G." > wrote

> I think I'll have ugly tomatoes from now on.

You mean the Ugli tomatoes? They are terrific.

nancy

Nancy Young wrote:
> "Dean G." > wrote
>
>
>>I think I'll have ugly tomatoes from now on.
>
>
> You mean the Ugli tomatoes? They are terrific.
>
> nancy
>
>
Here, in New York City, an Ugli is a grapefruit. )

"Margaret Suran" > wrote

> Nancy Young wrote:
>> "Dean G." > wrote

>>>I think I'll have ugly tomatoes from now on.

>> You mean the Ugli tomatoes? They are terrific.

> Here, in New York City, an Ugli is a grapefruit. )

Probably just some confused New York grocer type. Looked
like a grapefruit to them. (smile)

nancy

Dean G. > wrote in message
oups.com...
> ==>Gas or No Gas Tomatoes<==

Are you sure it wasn't an heirloom variety? They [most of the varieties
available] are pretty homely to begin with, are not treated with gas,
and have a HUGE flavor... That price might've been a very lucky deal.

The Ranger

Margaret Suran wrote:

>
>
> Nancy Young wrote:
> >"Dean G." > wrote
> >
> >
> > > I think I'll have ugly tomatoes from now on.
> >
> >
> > You mean the Ugli tomatoes? They are terrific.
> >
> > nancy
> Here, in New York City, an Ugli is a grapefruit. )

Actually, a type of tangelo, a cross between grapefruit and tangerine.
The ugli (they're trying to promote the name Unique) supposedly started
as a natural hybrid. They're pretty tasty, but pricey.



Brian

--
If televison's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who
won't shut up.
-- Dorothy Gambrell (http://catandgirl.com)

The Ranger wrote:
> Dean G. > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > ==>Gas or No Gas Tomatoes<==
>
> Are you sure it wasn't an heirloom variety? They [most of the varieties
> available] are pretty homely to begin with, are not treated with gas,
> and have a HUGE flavor... That price might've been a very lucky deal.
>
> The Ranger

I'm sure it wasn't an heirloom. They had those too, but they were
significantly more expensive, and I rarely buy them unless I'm
expecting company. If they ever have them on sale for $1.79, I'll buy
everything they have (g). This tomato was just a cheap untreated
tomato. It was very spherical, and the looms usually are "wrinkled".

I'm just happy because I was able to know when it was ripe and eat it
at the right time. I've also been buying black plums and waiting until
they start to get a bit soft. What a difference an extra two or three
days can make.

Dean G.

Nancy Young wrote:
> "Dean G." > wrote
>
> > I think I'll have ugly tomatoes from now on.
>
> You mean the Ugli tomatoes? They are terrific.

I don't think so. This was a very round tomato that looked like the
gas-treated type that just hadn't been gas treated. And it was the
cheapest kind of tomato they had.

I'll watch for Uglis. Are they like the heirlooms ?

Dean G.

"Dean G." > wrote

> Nancy Young wrote:
>> "Dean G." > wrote
>>
>> > I think I'll have ugly tomatoes from now on.
>>
>> You mean the Ugli tomatoes? They are terrific.
>
> I don't think so. This was a very round tomato that looked like the
> gas-treated type that just hadn't been gas treated. And it was the
> cheapest kind of tomato they had.
>
> I'll watch for Uglis. Are they like the heirlooms ?

Yes, they are. They are large and ... misshapen ... sorta.

http://images.google.com/images?q=ug...=Search+Images

The red ones are what I'm referring to. I love seeing them in the winter
when most tomatoes are awful. Also terrific are the caprese tomatoes,
but that's different.

nancy

"Helen Harrand" > wrote

> I think they're talking about the UglyRipe tomato. They're wonderful!
> Expensive as all get out tho!
> 'Round here they're $4/lb.

There you go! I couldn't think of the name. Thanks.

nancy

In article .com>,
says...
> A few days ago, I bought a tomato that was still partially green, and
> obviously not completely ripe. I noticed this, because usually the
> store bought tomatoes are treated with ethylene gas to "ripen" them.
> Well, the gas does change their color, and may help to ripen the
> tomato, but the results are not as good as time itself provides. I took
> the tomato home, and put it in my fruit bowl on the kitchen table.
>
> A few days later I noticed the tomato was no longer green. Because the
> tomato was not treated with ethylene, I was able to tell that it was
> getting ripe. With the gas treated tomatoes, it is not as easy to tell,
> and often the tomatoes go to mush before I realise they are ripe. This
> time was different. When I noticed it has changed, I was pretty sure
> the tomato was ripe, and after careful experimentation (I sliced it up
> and put it on a roast beef sandwhich), I was sure it was ripe. It was
> also quite tastey, something I have missed about most tomatoes of late.
>
> Now I see the insidious nature of the gas treatment. It doesn't really
> do anything bad in and of itself, it just prevents me from knowing when
> the tomato really is ripe. Without the treatment, I can see the tomato
> as it ripens, and know when it is ripe. With the treatment, I don't
> know the tomato is ripe until it starts to go bad.
>
> The ugly tomato was the cheapest tomato they had at the store ($1.79 or
> $1.59 per pound, IIRC), but turned out to be tastier than many other
> tomatoes I have bought at higher prices. I'm sure many of those
> expensive gas-treated tomatoes would be very good as well, but how can
> I tell when they will be good ? I certainly can't tell by looking at
> them, and while I could squeeze and sniff them, the color method seems
> to work as well if the tomato isn't (mis-)treated with ethylene gas.
>
> I think I'll have ugly tomatoes from now on.
>
> Dean G.

The same is true of most fruits and vegetables. They're picked just
before they're ripe then hit with the gas to improve color.

One thing of note - peaches. They seem to be particularly flavorful
right now but they're still a little on the hard side. But a day or so
in the bag and they'll be soft and ready.

Got them at the Stop and Shop near my office when I went in to get
something for lunch today. At only 59 cents a pound I grabbed about 5lbs
of them.

mother nature has been enticing animals to eat sweet fruit to move seeds for
millions of years.

It has mastered that changing of starch to sugar once picked or fallen, long
ago

As long as the fruit has developed enough to store starch, it will try to
turn the starch in the fruit to sugar when separated from the plant.


"Dean G." > wrote in message
oups.com...
> A few days ago, I bought a tomato that was still partially green, and
> obviously not completely ripe. I noticed this, because usually the
> store bought tomatoes are treated with ethylene gas to "ripen" them.
> Well, the gas does change their color, and may help to ripen the
> tomato, but the results are not as good as time itself provides. I took
> the tomato home, and put it in my fruit bowl on the kitchen table.
>
> A few days later I noticed the tomato was no longer green. Because the
> tomato was not treated with ethylene, I was able to tell that it was
> getting ripe. With the gas treated tomatoes, it is not as easy to tell,
> and often the tomatoes go to mush before I realise they are ripe.

mushy usually from being picked too green

This
> time was different. When I noticed it has changed, I was pretty sure
> the tomato was ripe, and after careful experimentation (I sliced it up
> and put it on a roast beef sandwhich), I was sure it was ripe. It was
> also quite tastey, something I have missed about most tomatoes of late.
>
> Now I see the insidious nature of the gas treatment. It doesn't really
> do anything bad in and of itself, it just prevents me from knowing when
> the tomato really is ripe. Without the treatment, I can see the tomato
> as it ripens, and know when it is ripe. With the treatment, I don't
> know the tomato is ripe until it starts to go bad.
>
> The ugly tomato was the cheapest tomato they had at the store ($1.79 or
> $1.59 per pound, IIRC), but turned out to be tastier than many other
> tomatoes I have bought at higher prices. I'm sure many of those
> expensive gas-treated tomatoes would be very good as well, but how can
> I tell when they will be good ? I certainly can't tell by looking at
> them, and while I could squeeze and sniff them, the color method seems
> to work as well if the tomato isn't (mis-)treated with ethylene gas.
>
> I think I'll have ugly tomatoes from now on.
>
> Dean G.
>

On 16 Aug 2006 13:47:12 -0700, "Dean G." > wrote:

>A few days later I noticed the tomato was no longer green.

[My garden gave birth to its very first ripe tomato this afternoon!
Waiting for Joe to get home so we can fry some bacon and make
sandwiches.]

We now continue our regularly scheduled discussion of gas-treated
tomatoes ....

"The Ranger" > wrote in message
...
> Dean G. > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > ==>Gas or No Gas Tomatoes<==
>
> Are you sure it wasn't an heirloom variety? They [most of the varieties
> available] are pretty homely to begin with, are not treated with gas,
> and have a HUGE flavor... That price might've been a very lucky deal.
>
> The Ranger
>
>


I think they're talking about the UglyRipe tomato. They're wonderful!
Expensive as all get out tho!
'Round here they're $4/lb.

helen

"Nancy Young" > wrote in message
. ..
>
> "Dean G." > wrote
>
>> I think I'll have ugly tomatoes from now on.
>
> You mean the Ugli tomatoes? They are terrific.
>
> nancy

Are they ever! I bought one today (the label said "The Ugly Tomato That
Tastes Like a Tomato) and it was amazing. It really DID taste like a tomato!

Felice

"Helen Harrand" > wrote

> I think it stinks that they can't be sold outside of Florida in the
> winter.
> I'd kill for them in December and January.

Ditto. Have you tried the Caprese? They are out of Arizona ...
I think. They come in a clear plastic box. You can even get
them from Costco. A bright spot in the dreggs of winter.

nancy

"Pixmaker" > wrote in message
...
> We've seen what the stores call an "ugly tomato" several months ago. These
were somewhat short and fat tomatoes with a
> very pronounced wrinkling on the top as the sides neared the stem. The
store guys say they're called ugly because of
> their appearance. Whatever the specific variety, they were quite tasty and
a bit pricey.
> Pixmaker in FLL
> ===========================
> It's not the heat, it's the humidity!
> ===========================
> (Think the humidity's bad?
> You should watch us vote!)
> ===========================


One of the gourmet mags did a story on the Ugli Ripe tomatoes several months
ago. From what they wrote it is illegal for them to be sold out of Florida
from October to May or so. Seems that the nasty green tomato selling guys
got up in arms about them being SO much better (and also at least 2x the
price in winter, sometimes 3x) that they petitioned the state USDA or
legislature or something and made the definition of a tomato made to include
round, 3" (I think) and something else so they can't be shipped during the
winter. Luckily you in Florida can get them year round.

I think it stinks that they can't be sold outside of Florida in the winter.
I'd kill for them in December and January.

helen

"Nancy Young" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Helen Harrand" > wrote
>
> > I think it stinks that they can't be sold outside of Florida in the
> > winter.
> > I'd kill for them in December and January.
>
> Ditto. Have you tried the Caprese? They are out of Arizona ...
> I think. They come in a clear plastic box. You can even get
> them from Costco. A bright spot in the dreggs of winter.
>
> nancy
>
>

I get the Caprese at Costco in the winter along with the grape tomatoes.
The only problem that I have w/the Caprese is that they aren't as meaty as
I'd like. I suppose that I could get around this by just squeezing some of
the guts out so that it doesn't mooog up my sandwich too much! I love those
little grape tomatoes also but they are a bitch to keep on the bread unless
you chop them up. I sometimes just slice them in half and they have a
tendency to shoot out of the bread while you're not watchin' 'em!

helen

Helen Harrand wrote:

> One of the gourmet mags did a story on the Ugli Ripe tomatoes several months
> ago. From what they wrote it is illegal for them to be sold out of Florida
> from October to May or so. Seems that the nasty green tomato selling guys
> got up in arms about them being SO much better (and also at least 2x the
> price in winter, sometimes 3x) that they petitioned the state USDA or
> legislature or something and made the definition of a tomato made to include
> round, 3" (I think) and something else so they can't be shipped during the
> winter. Luckily you in Florida can get them year round.


I got curious about this. It wasn't the USDA (I couldn't imagine them
getting involved in with interstate sales). It was the Florida Tomato
Committee.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...040600785.html
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=352424&page=1
http://www.medillnewsdc.com/cgi-bin/...&f=17&t=000368


Especially look at that last URL. Interesting.


--Lia

Cheap, American supermarket-bought inorganic tomatos. Uggh! If there
is any food more tasteless than that on the planet, I would be
surprised. Oh, except, of course, cheap American supermarket-bought
inorganic cucumbers and green peppers. The big mega-farmers optimize
the profitability of their crops by increasing their water content,
ripening them off the vine, and dosing them with an unbalanced mixture
of fertilizers on relatively barren farm-land. The result is a
negative advertisement for American agriculture. You want a surprise?
Buy hydroponically grown tomatoes and compare their flavor to the
inorganic stuff. With vegetables, you get what you pay for. If you
try to cheapen the farmer by supporting only the cheap stuff, you cheat
yourself via reduced taste and reduced vitamin content of the
vegetables.

"Julia Altshuler" > wrote in message
. ..
> Helen Harrand wrote:
>
> > One of the gourmet mags did a story on the Ugli Ripe tomatoes several
months
> > ago. From what they wrote it is illegal for them to be sold out of
Florida
> > from October to May or so. Seems that the nasty green tomato selling
guys
> > got up in arms about them being SO much better (and also at least 2x the
> > price in winter, sometimes 3x) that they petitioned the state USDA or
> > legislature or something and made the definition of a tomato made to
include
> > round, 3" (I think) and something else so they can't be shipped during
the
> > winter. Luckily you in Florida can get them year round.
>
>
> I got curious about this. It wasn't the USDA (I couldn't imagine them
> getting involved in with interstate sales). It was the Florida Tomato
> Committee.
>
>
>
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...040600785.html
> http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=352424&page=1
>
http://www.medillnewsdc.com/cgi-bin/...&f=17&t=000368
>
>
> Especially look at that last URL. Interesting.
>
>
> --Lia
>


Thank you for coming up with the references Lia. I knew that they were
there but just didn't feel like looking for them at the time. It makes me
furious to think that there could actually be a law enacted so that we can't
get better fruits and vegetables. It makes me double furious that they had
to feed these wonderful tomatoes to the cows several years back because they
couldn't ship them to the upper states.

It's not even comparing appels to apples. In the magazine article that I
read it says that, on the wholesale market, that the UglyRipe farmers are
getting something like 3x the price for their crop. The producers of the
perfect tomatoes can't get that becuase they taste like nothing. It's
comparing a premium crop to an inferior crop, albeit a vastly larger one.

Grrrrrrr,
helen

Julia Altshuler wrote:
> Helen Harrand wrote:
>
> > One of the gourmet mags did a story on the Ugli Ripe tomatoes several months
> > ago. From what they wrote it is illegal for them to be sold out of Florida
> > from October to May or so. Seems that the nasty green tomato selling guys
> > got up in arms about them being SO much better (and also at least 2x the
> > price in winter, sometimes 3x) that they petitioned the state USDA or
> > legislature or something and made the definition of a tomato made to include
> > round, 3" (I think) and something else so they can't be shipped during the
> > winter. Luckily you in Florida can get them year round.
>
>
> I got curious about this. It wasn't the USDA (I couldn't imagine them
> getting involved in with interstate sales). It was the Florida Tomato
> Committee.
>
>
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...040600785.html
> http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=352424&page=1
> http://www.medillnewsdc.com/cgi-bin/...&f=17&t=000368
>
>
> Especially look at that last URL. Interesting.
>
>
> --Lia

Humm, I wonder how well they'd do in Jamaica or Cuba or Mexico ? I
don't think we care were they come from.
John Kane, Kingston ON Canada

"Julia Altshuler" > wrote

> http://www.medillnewsdc.com/cgi-bin/...&f=17&t=000368
>
>
> Especially look at that last URL. Interesting.

So ... what do you think, is there any way we can participate in their
survey/whatever? Give them our opinions? It says 60 days from
July 5th, I think?

nancy

The only "Organic" food that I buy by choice from our local Auchan are
their tomatoes during the winter. They are probably imported from just
as far as the others but at least they have some taste.

Currently enjoying the toms from the garden, due to the weird weather we
have had this year, they are ripening nice and slowly and we can eat
them as they arrive, not the normal glut we normally get all at once.

Steve

wrote:
> Cheap, American supermarket-bought inorganic tomatos. Uggh! If there
> is any food more tasteless than that on the planet, I would be
> surprised. Oh, except, of course, cheap American supermarket-bought
> inorganic cucumbers and green peppers. The big mega-farmers optimize
> the profitability of their crops by increasing their water content,
> ripening them off the vine, and dosing them with an unbalanced mixture
> of fertilizers on relatively barren farm-land. The result is a
> negative advertisement for American agriculture. You want a surprise?
> Buy hydroponically grown tomatoes and compare their flavor to the
> inorganic stuff. With vegetables, you get what you pay for. If you
> try to cheapen the farmer by supporting only the cheap stuff, you cheat
> yourself via reduced taste and reduced vitamin content of the
> vegetables.
>