tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post9178021297505954829..comments2024-03-22T00:35:19.082-07:00Comments on Casual Kitchen: How Do You Eat Tomatoes Ethically?Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02388302796031288076noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-24369923490989697692013-01-26T07:30:03.411-08:002013-01-26T07:30:03.411-08:00My parents always grew their own tomatoes, but aft...My parents always grew their own tomatoes, but after I moved out, as an apartment dweller I got in the habit of buying the grocery store tomatoes regardless of season. These past two summers, we've been in a house with a yard, so we started growing our own again. I remember taking a bite of my very first homegrown tomato and actually gasping out loud. It had been so long since I'd had a "real" tomato that I'd forgotten how incredible they taste. There's just no comparison. After that, I just can't tolerate paying so much for bright red cardboard in the winter. The information about the mistreatment of the workers is just another incentive to never buy them. When there are so many other recipes to make, it's easy enough to save the ones requiring fresh tomatoes for summer. Salixbabylonicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15822486413898758221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-88699021428385868062013-01-24T02:21:07.362-08:002013-01-24T02:21:07.362-08:00I use Red Gold canned tomato products (http://www....I use Red Gold canned tomato products (http://www.redgold.com/). The tomatoes are grown within 200 miles of Elwood, IN (northeast of Indianapolis) and canned in Elwood. This company also produces RedPack tomatoes that are distributed in the eastern states as well as a couple of other brands. <br /><br />Nearly all of the tomatoes I buy at the farmer's market are organic, though they may not be advertised as organic. Tomatoes aren't on the "dirty dozen" lists of produce that one should always buy organic. Neither are they on the "clean fifteen" lists of produce that has the least pesticide residue. So, buy organic if you can, but if you can't afford them, I don't think it's a problem. <br /><br />I'm thinking about growing some this summer in containers on my patio. I'll grow both Roma's and some kind of slicing tomato. Sallynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-78804423966473243812013-01-23T18:50:00.788-08:002013-01-23T18:50:00.788-08:00Good info!
I find I'd rather eat mostly tast...Good info! <br /><br />I find I'd rather eat mostly tasteless tomatoes in winter than no tomatoes at all, but now I'll find ways to use canned tomatoes more often, and maybe eventually get to growing and canning my own tomatoes.<br /><br />What's the word on organic tomatoes? How do they fit into this situation?Esmehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10297973742540331610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-76733181551316321132013-01-22T18:59:30.663-08:002013-01-22T18:59:30.663-08:00Thanks for the info! Now I know what to tell my pa...Thanks for the info! Now I know what to tell my partner (he doesn't buy them often, but it happens) that beyond flavour there's also distance, health and ethics involved. I have some home-canned and some roasted and frozen tomatoes from my garden that I use in winter. Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07764279296851136522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-73552282733529481842013-01-22T10:49:45.585-08:002013-01-22T10:49:45.585-08:00I don't buy any out of season tomatoes anymore...I don't buy any out of season tomatoes anymore, after hearing about the deplorable practices in Florida. I'm all about canned tomatoes instead, and only those brands that don't source from Florida. When I buy fresh tomatoes, it's in the summer from the farmer's market! Joannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17133232352924060797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-56575226096306339042013-01-22T07:33:31.554-08:002013-01-22T07:33:31.554-08:00After reading Tomato Land, we decided to grow our ...After reading Tomato Land, we decided to grow our own. Tomatoes are super easy to grow in a pot, all you need is enough sun. Then in the winter we grow two pots indoors under a T5 florescent light. This supplies us with fresh picked tomatoes year round! And they taste Delish!Wet Coastershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01102725313262001765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-24591867168750445372013-01-22T07:25:26.645-08:002013-01-22T07:25:26.645-08:00Everything Sally just said! None out of season, fa...Everything Sally just said! None out of season, farmers markets are the only good ones even IN season. I do buy hothouse grown cherry ones for salads. Are those also bad? I actually don't know.<br /><br />I will add that I cook with canned tomatoes year round. Lots. I always have a supply of crushed, petite diced, sauce and paste on my shelf. I don't worry much about chemicals because I already know there is no way I will cook without them.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12439733116558336290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-82399813609839049272013-01-22T06:41:36.685-08:002013-01-22T06:41:36.685-08:00I haven't purchased an out-of-season tomato in...I haven't purchased an out-of-season tomato in years. I also never buy them in a grocery store. It has nothing to do with conditions or pesticide use. It has to do with quality. I don't want to waste my money on a tasteless tomato.<br /><br />Even during tomato season, tomatoes at grocery stores are less than Ideal. I buy tomatoes at the farmer's market or one of several produce stands near here. <br /><br />Once tomatoes are out of season I don't make anything that requires fresh tomatoes. I do use canned. I have canned tomatoes and tomato sauce in the past and I may have to go back to doing that. <br /> Sallynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-82058823518829925792013-01-22T06:16:26.748-08:002013-01-22T06:16:26.748-08:00you can buy the superpremiumexpensive glass jars o...you can buy the superpremiumexpensive glass jars of tomatoes.<br /><br />Or you can them yourself ;)Stuart Carterhttp://www.addictedtocanning.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-43007465603954133612013-01-22T05:46:51.857-08:002013-01-22T05:46:51.857-08:00We eat very few fresh tomatoes--Mr. Sandwich doesn...We eat very few fresh tomatoes--Mr. Sandwich doesn't care for them--but I am most likely to buy them at my local farmers market rather than from the store (where much of the produce has no flavor whether it's in or out of season).<br /><br />As for cans and BPA, I've seen recommendations to buy tomatoes from Pomi and other brands that use similar packaging. My closest grocery store doesn't carry them, so I'm going to look elsewhere for my shelf-friendly tomatoes.Tragic Sandwichhttp://tragicsandwich.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-32748478401366477462013-01-22T05:09:35.517-08:002013-01-22T05:09:35.517-08:00Today anyway, I am just happy that this is what we...Today anyway, I am just happy that this is what we have to worry about...<br /><br />Are heirloom varieties any better?<br />What about those little orange ones?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-81228514338524256432013-01-22T03:58:28.052-08:002013-01-22T03:58:28.052-08:00Oy, a dilemma indeed. And if you buy canned tomato...Oy, a dilemma indeed. And if you buy canned tomatoes then you are increasing your exposure to BPA, which incidentally leaches faster in acidic conditions. Does anyone sell tomatoes in glass jars instead of cans?Jennhttp://jenncuisine.comnoreply@blogger.com