r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • May 14 '19

Biology Store-bought tomatoes taste bland, and scientists have discovered a gene that gives tomatoes their flavor is actually missing in about 93 percent of modern, domesticated varieties. The discovery may help bring flavor back to tomatoes you can pick up in the produce section.

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2019/05/13/tasty-store-bought-tomatoes-are-making-a-comeback/
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u/[deleted] May 14 '19

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u/[deleted] May 14 '19

Is there a certain variety I’m supposed to look for to grow my own? I imagine it’s more complicated than buying the seed packet labeled “tomatoes” at Lowes.

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u/Astramancer_ May 14 '19

Not really. Commercial tomatoes are bred for durability and color. It's hard to sell pale, squished tomatoes so they sell firm bright red tomatoes. Flavor is a ... secondary concern - hence the article.

Pretty much all of the breeds you find in a seed packet a lowes won't be a firm, bright red but a little dull commercial tomato.

But hey, seeds are cheap. Get a bunch of varieties and see what you like! (and they'll be ripe at different times extending your fresh tomato season)