Description

Fruit or vegetable, now that is the question! Much confusion exists around the tomato’s classification, but that doesn’t make our home-grown tomatoes any less delicious. One unique characteristic of this tomato is the firmness of the fruit due to the thick, meaty wall. This is what contributes to the deep rich flavor when rendered down into sauce. The Amish Paste Tomato is an 1870 heirloom. The origin of this strain is said to be from the Amish communities in Wisconsin but discovered among the Amish of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Sweeter than other paste tomatoes, the shape of the Amish Paste Tomato can vary from large plum to teardrop. The juicy, eight- to 12-ounce fruits with meaty flesh and very little seeds are useful in sauces or canning and work well in salads or on sandwiches.

These tomatoes provide high levels of vitamins A and C and are also a good source of B vitamins, potassium, and calcium. Tomatoes contain lycopene, an antioxidant compound that is currently being investigated for its cancer-fighting and cholesterol-lowering abilities. Lycopene may also help the skin protect itself from UV damage. Regular consumption may also help protect against heart disease.