Fixing the Broken Tomato

Tomatoes ripening on the vine. Photo courtesy: Ajith_chatie/CC BY 2.0

If you have ever grown tomatoes in your backyard, ideally from heritage seeds, harvesting each plump red fruit at the height of ripeness, you know there is something missing from the hothouse hybrids at the local grocery. Now scientists know exactly what makes for good tomato chemistry -- including some aromas that give the perception of sweetness independent of sugars.

Moreover, they have proven a novel method for predicting and testing "likability". Corresponding author Herry Klee, of the University of Florida, says: "We now know exactly what we need to do to fix the broken tomato".

Traditional food chemists have not succeeded at analyzing the chemicals in a food like a tomato, and predicting from that "chemical recipe" which tomatoes people will like the most. Even focusing on the volatile chemicals above odor thresholds -- that's the molecules that are released into the air in sufficient quantities that their smell affects what you taste -- has not resulted in accurate descriptions of tasty tomatoes.

The scientists behind the study of The Chemical Interactions Underlying Tomato Flavor Preferences started more traditionally. They grew 152 heirloom tomato varieties, assembling 278 chemical profiles from samples of their harvest. Most of the tomato varieties were bred before the tasteless commercial tomatoes that curse modern BLTs were invented.

They found a surprising diversity of chemicals, with variations of up to 3000 times the aromatic chemical content between cultivars (another example of the biological value lost when commercial monoculture eradicates historical biodiversity). This palette of palatables gave the researchers an opportunity to poll panelists on their "overall liking", flavor intensity, sweetness, and sourness of key varietals selected as representatives of the potential range of chemistries.

Statistical analysis of the taste test results demonstrated that "flavor intensity traces to 12 different compounds and sweetness to another 12, including 8 that were also important for overall flavor." Interestingly, some of the aromatic compounds typically abundant in the red fruits are not responsible for good taste in tomatoes; the relatively less abundant aromatics qualified in the two "tasty twelve" lists.

Additionally, the study shows that some aromatic compounds in tomatoes contribute to the perception of sweetness independently of sugar concentration.

Klee focuses on the value of the study for fixing commercial tomato flavor:

This is the first step to restoring good flavor in commercial tomatoes. Consumers care deeply about tomatoes. Their lack of flavor is a major focus of consumer dissatisfaction with modern agriculture. One could do worse than to be known as the person who helped fix flavor.

Unfortunately, it is more likely that food scientists will hijack the findings of the study to make processed foods tastier, as is done with the secret ingredients in "natural" orange juice, luring the fast food consuming public even further astray from the path of fresh fruits and vegetables that taste great and are healthy to eat.

Make Pesticides a Thing of the Past

Photo courtesy: trekearth.com

Canada, where I live, is home to over 500 species listed at some level of risk -- extinct, extirpated, endangered, threatened or of special concern. At risk species are found worldwide; and, can cause environmentally-concerned persons to feel helpless and hopeless. It's hard enough to enact changes locally; but, how can a person possibly affect the health and safety of a species halfway around the world?

Just look to your backyard or balcony for inspiration. Your backyard or balcony is more influential to the world around it than you think; and, they are totally under your control. Making your back yard or balcony an oasis for all living things either passing through or setting up home will greatly benefit wildlife no matter where on earth you live.

The first, and possibly the most important, step is to make a pledge to yourself; and, the inhabitants of your yard, that this will be a chemical-free zone. This is just as important for balcony owners as well. Well-planted balconies are favourite haunts of winged pollinators, birds and other visitors. Lawns and gardens doused in toxic chemicals may ward off weeds and pests; but, they can also harm or even kill at-risk insects, such as the Monarch butterfly; and, reptiles, amphibians and mammals that may live in your yard.

Pesticides and herbicides can also harm aquatic species whether you have a yard or a balcony. The "harm" potential for balcony owners is not as great as for yard owners; but, there is a threat nonetheless. Pesticides can drain into sewers, streams and lakes by your home or cottage, which filter out into rivers; and, eventually straight into our oceans.

Just because you have chosen a pesticide-free yard or balcony doesn't mean your can't have the oasis of your dreams. There are plenty of ways to keep your garden healthy while avoiding the use of harmful chemicals.

1. Do choose plants native to your area because they have evolved with local wildlife; and, have developed natural defences against it.

2. Do keep you soil healthy by adding compost and well-aged manure. These are better than chemical additives.

3. Don't stick to the same old plants in the same old locations. Many pests eat only certain plants. Growing a diversity of plants minimizes your garden's susceptibility to any pest invasion. Also, different plants require different elements from the soil. By growing the same old thing, in the same old place, year after year, soil can become prematurely drained of certain elements that could have been replenished naturally by rotating the plantings. Obviously, trees and shrubs are permanent; but, all other plantings benefit from the occasional new location.

4. Do use non-chemical methods, such as hand picking pests, using plant barriers or setting insect traps.

5. Do welcome insect predators, such as birds, toads, snakes, spiders, bats, or ladybugs to your garden by providing shelter, water and supplemental food sources.

6. Do your research. Take advantage of the natural aversion of pests to certain plants by adding them to your garden. Mint, garlic, cloves, nasturtiums, lavender, sage and thyme repel many pest insects.

7. Don't water in the evening. Damp leaves in the evening can lead to fungus and other diseases.