Basic Facts about Heirloom Tomatoes.

Ever Wondered… What is an heirloom tomato? What makes them different from normal tomatoes?

A lot of times when you go to the store you see a lot of tomatoes that are about the same size with perfect redness and that wonderful vibrant red we have all come to expect from our tomatoes. They usually are free from any blemishes and they all have a pretty uniform look. In my mind for many years I thought this was how a tomato was supposed to look.

But we were wrong. Those perfectly plump red tomatoes that you find at your nearby store, well they are a hybridized tomato that has been cross pollinated to form a genetic mutation that causes them to look this way. That doesn’t sound very delicious does it?
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This is why more people are going towards the heirloom variety which has more variety in their look and more taste in their bite. Their colors range from orange to yellow, to green, to red. They may not have that perfect appearance and sometimes you may find lines on the top of the tomato. Don’t let that frighten you these are how tomatoes are supposed to look. These are how tomatoes are supposed to taste. Even though a tomato is an heirloom variety does not mean its organic. Why heirloom is the variety of the plant, the growing method is determines if its organic or not. If pesticides were used its not organic.

To get started go to your nearest farmers market to pick up a batch. Some popular heirloom varieties are Brandywine, Golden Jubilee, Goldie and Black Cherry. Remember, don’t let the imperfections scare you instead step outside your comfort zone and eat them. Tis the season for tomatoes.

The NO List & Reasons Why

·         No high fructose corn syrup  

T    This is a super sweet man made food product that is made from corn and added to a lot of processed foods.

            Causes: heart disease, obesity, cancer, dementia, liver failure & tooth decay.

For more information go to www.drhyman.com

·         No artificial fats/trans fats

      Per Heart.org  Transfats are created when hydrogen is added to liquid vegetable oils to make them       more solid.

            Causes weight gain, inflammation and atherosclerosis.

For more info: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/why-are-trans-fats-bad/#axzz2eX6lsf00

·         No artificial Colors:

      This is food coloring that changes or enhances the color of the food you

      Causes: cancer and adhd

            For more info: 

            http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/03/13/real-food-tips-7-reasons-i-hate-artificial-food-dyes/

                http://healthychild.org/easy-steps/avoid-food-dyes-to-reduce-hyperactivity-and-adhd/

·         No Artificial flavors

       This is when imitation flavoring is added to your food.  This is a cheap alternative to flavoring food. 

             Causes: Depending on the type of flavorings added to your food it can cause nausea,                            gastrointestinal problems, liver and kidney problems, cancer and many other things.

Earthfare Philosophy

Per Earth Fares website: www.earthfare.com, their food philosophy is the following:

No high fructose corn syrup
No artificial fats/trans fats.
No artificial Colors
No Artificial flavors
No artificial Preservatives
No artificial Sweeteners.
No Antibiotics or synthetic growth hormones in fresh meat or dairy products.
No bleached or bromated flour. 

Given the state of our food these days this is a pretty big list of things they stand up for which is what most of us need. I like going into this store and being able to buy anything and know that I don't have to double check for my biggest pet peave, high fructose corn syrup.

While their food can be a little pricey, it's great having piece of mind and of course better quality food is always more expensive.

When I first ventured in I discovered I had seen a lot of these brands previously at other stores I shop at so I made a mental note of the other great brands that I can purchase other places.  In fact I have now taken it a step further and I actually review their monthly flyer and right down the brands that I now know are safe and try to locate them elsewhere, whether online or a store closer to me. I live about a half an hour away from Earth Fare but I still like shopping there and I love the philosophy behind their food!