When it comes to tomatoes, beauty is only skin deep

I had some observations recently regarding tomato choices, prices, and quality. And trust me, the $1.00/lb+ tomatoes are hardly better than the $0.99/lb ones that used to be over $1. They pretty much all taste like… well… really old, unripe tomatoes. They look ripe, but don’t be fooled. That’s why my project was called Tomatoes don’t grow on trees. You might think they do, but when it comes to non-organic tomatoes, more likely than not, they’re picked green and then gassed to turn red — which is not the same as ripening. BC Hot House, however, says on their website:

All BC Hot House produce is hand picked when the timing is perfect-which means the fruit has been given the opportunity to vine-ripen naturally. Careful hand picking helps prevent bruising.

But why do some pictures such as the one on this page show unripe tomatoes?

BC Hot House tomatoes contain a multitude of vitamins and minerals, including lycopene; an antioxidant that may help reduce the risk of cancer.

They only list Vitamins A & C, iron, and calcium. Where are the rest?

This page lists the nutritional content of one variety. It surprises me that the Vitamin A, iron, and calcium are so low. The romas and beefsteaks have even less Vitamin C. In fact, the “mini roma” only has 6% vitamin C and that’s it! The cherry tomatoes are an interesting find.

I think their growing methods are highly sustainable, although I wonder about the “sterilized sawdust or a wool-like material” in place of soil.

We grow our produce hydroponically–in natural biodegradable materials such as rockwool and wood chips. This method conducts air and water directly to plant roots. Growing hydroponically means we do not have to use toxic herbicides. We also drastically reduce the need for pesticides by using biological controls -‘good bugs’ to fight ‘bad bugs’. Some of the good bugs used are ladybugs and wasps BC Hot House produce is virtually pesticide free.

I haven’t had a BC Hot House tomato in a long time, and haven’t found them so far at my market, so can anyone else talk about their experiences with their product? I always enjoyed their cucumbers.