Ideal Bite

Planning your summer garden and want to change it up a bit this year?

03.16.2006

Submitted by idealbite on Thu, 03/16/2006 - 6:00pm.

The Bite:

Include heirloom varieties (produce grown from seeds that haven’t been hybridized). The heirloom movement began in the 1970s as a way to preserve genetic diversity. Beyond fighting off the spread of Frankenfood, heirloom produce just tastes tons better.

The Benefits:

High in nutrients and rich in aroma, color and taste. Plus you can impress your friends with cool tomato varieties like Green Zebra, Purple Calabash, and Bull’s Heart.
Protect biodiversity. Genetically modified vegetables reduce gene diversity, which scientists agree is important to future food production. Of the 7,100 fruit varieties known to be in existence in 1800, only 1,000 varieties exist today.
Many varietals are “open pollinated,” meaning they are fertilized naturally by wind, insects, birds and animals. You can become a “backyard breeder,” and work on adapting plants to local conditions over time.
Heirlooms are often tastier than cultivars that have been selected for ease of shipping, uniform appearance or ability to grow well throughout the country.

Personally Speaking:

Heather “went heirloom” last summer (with brandywine and pineapple tomato varietals) and she’s never going back. This, in spite of that evil squirrel who seems to think she is growing the brandywine ones just for him…

Wanna Try:

We can’t lie. Hybrids are usually bred to be heartier and easier to grow, so you may not get as many tomatoes/potatoes/etc. But they are sure going to taste a lot better… try these on for size:

Seeds Trust - vegetable and tomato heirloom seeds (from $1.95/pack).
The Heirloom Vegetable Gardener’s Assistant – handy site offers advice and guidance useful to both novice and expert heirloom gardeners.
Seed Saver Exchange – non-profit organization of gardeners who save and share heirloom seeds.
Pick your local farmer’s brain! Ask what types of heirlooms they suggest.

Cocktail Fact

Tomato skins of past were never thick - they have been bred that way to make the 2000 mile commute to your table.

Bang For The Bite

Fewer people are saving seeds from year to year. The further we get away from originally-intended fruits and veggies, the closer we get to a Frankenfood Nation.

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