Described in the 1600s and 1700s as “ranke and stinking,” tomatoes were feared to be poisonous, “toxic and not fit for hogs.” Descriptions of tomatoes today include having “crisp green apple notes,” “a burgundy wine finish,” or “superb smoky sweetness.”

There are hundreds of tomato cultivars available, from old heirlooms like ‘Brandywine” to luscious new tomatoes often bred by crossing heirlooms to produce ‘Green Zebra’, ‘Berkeley Tie Die’ and ‘Pink Boar’. Gardeners are particularly excited about the black and stripey tomatoes these days.