The History of Heirloom Tomatoes

Every tomato tells a story. From the backyards of determined growers to ancient seeds carried across continents, heirloom tomatoes are more than food — they’re history, resilience, and culture in a single bite.

• Radiator Charlie’s Mortgage Lifter → How one man’s tomato paid off his mortgage and became a legend.
  
• Cherokee Purple → A sacred gift with rich flavor and deep cultural roots.
  
• San Marzano → The Italian tomato that shaped sauces and cuisine worldwide.
  
• Oaxacan Pink → A vibrant variety with ties to Mexico’s traditional seed keepers.

• Growing heirloom tomatoes keeps these stories alive.
• Buying and planting seeds supports local biodiversity.
• Every gardener becomes part of the story, passing seeds and history to the next generation.

Explore the stories below, grow your own piece of history, and taste the difference of true heirloom tomatoes.