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Tomato ColorEver wonder what causes tomato varieties to be the color that they are? Yes, it is genetic and encoded in the varieties ancestry. Red (synonym Scarlet) tomatoes have crimson (pink) or red interiors with yellow skin. Pink (synonym Crimson) tomatoes have pink interiors and clear skin. It should be noted that historically, "purple" was used as a synonym for pink when describing tomato color in old seed catalogs. Green tomatoes, not to be confused with unripe fruit, exhibit at least two variants - yellow-green colored (i.e. 'Cherokee Green') and bright-green with a slight yellowish tinge (i.e. 'Aunt Ruby's German Green'). The yellow-green color is created from yellow skin over green interior and the bright-green color is from fruit with nearly clear skin over green interior. Black, Brown, and Purple tomatoes retain some chlorophyll (green pigment) during ripening. This green color combined with a crimson ripe interior produces a darker red coloration. 'Cherokee Purple' and 'Black from Tula' (dark purple hued fruits) have clear skin over this dark interior. 'Cherokee Chocolate' and 'Paul Robeson' (brown tomatoes) have yellow skin over a dark red interior. Orange, Yellow, and White tomatoes come is many different shades - from pale lemon to deep golden to bright orange. These are created by variations in flesh pigments with clear or yellow skins. White or Ivory tomatoes are not truly white but very pale yellow with clear or very pale yellow skin. Color Relates Questions and Answers Q. I have large translucent or yellowish areas on my tomato fruit. What's the problem? A. This is not a problem caused by pests or disease but by the sun. Specifically, too much of it. It is called sun scald and is caused when heat from from direct sunlight is so intense that it destroys the color pigments of the tomato. The tomato, although unattractive, is still edible. This is often a result of tomato varieties with poor leaf coverage. Q. Will tomatoes properly ripen and be flavorful is picked green (immature) and allowed to ripen off of the vine? A. Yes. If handled properly, tomatoes will ripen and be quite edible. They will not taste as great as a summer tomato ripened on the vine but they will be a welcome treat in the late fall. First, never refrigerate immature tomatoes. Store them in a cool, dry place in a single layer (not touching each other). To ripen, bring them into your kitchen and allow them to develop full color. When they are ready to eat, refrigerate for a few hours before eating. |
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