Almost always the first large tomato ripens on Christmas Day
– Iming Lin
There may not be snow or cosy candle-lit gatherings but one of the joys of a southern hemisphere Christmas is tomato season. A few years back, Christmas Eve fell on a Saturday and a very important part of the preparations was to head out to the market to secure some precious heirloom tomatoes.
There were four of us early birds hovering closely around that single basket of heirlooms, all waiting for the bell to ring and the market to open. The tension was palapable. Yet when that bell finally tolled we were all overcome with politeness: ‘No, you go first! No really, you go first!’ ‘No really…’
Over the years I’ve come to know the fellow early risers I meet over tomatoes and there’s always a quick exchange about what each of us is cooking or interesting produce spotted on the other side of the veg tent. And bringing back a basket of carefully selected produce or one prized tomato as an unexpected gift has become a love language of sorts between Brandon and myself and our friends.
As someone who has tried to grow their own vegetables, the fact that the plant and the farmer and the microorganisms in the soil can align to produce this 600g beauty (pictured) is nothing short of a miracle. And if someone presented me with this for Christmas, it would be treasured.
If you feel the same way and know other people who might too, consider investing in something made in collaboration with Mother Nature when shopping for your gifts.
Just last week the Oranjezicht City Farm announced they are harvesting tomatoes to include in their weekly box of organic veggies. The heirloom variety tomato pictured is a Striped German, one of my favourites and that of Iming Lin of Meuse Farm, who is quoted above. For the full the interview with Iming follow the link below.
