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The Granny Smith Ap...ooops I mean Tomato!

© Vic Ferri

Brand new for 2001 and receiving a lot of hype is the Granny Smith tomato which is unique in that it will never turn red! (hmm - living in the north here, does not sound too unique to me - I consider it a lucky season when I see RED tomatoes on my plants, lol) Actually this green tomato is not at all like the immature bitter tasting green tomatoes you are often left with at the end of the season. The Granny Smith takes on the natural sugars and acids while still green and the taste is on the sweet side with just a bit of tartness if picked when just a bit of yellow starts to shoe on the fruit. That yellow is a sign that Granny Smith is definitely ready to pick.

The fruit size of Granny Smith is medium large(8 - 10 ounces). The fruits are very solid and feel heavy and have superior storing qualities. This tomato will keep on the shelf longer than the average red tomato.

Growing it is no different than growing any other tomato. However, unlike regular tomatoes, harvest time is not as obvious since there is no real color change. But it is still easy to tell when they are ready. As mentioned earlier, when the full sized fruits begin to show just a little light yellow color somewhere(usually on the shoulder or the bottom of the fruit), they are ready to pick, and at this point will have a a good balance of sugars and acids and a flavour you will most likely enjoy. Anyone who likes red tomatoes will probably like Granny Smith as well. This will probably be the best green tomato you have ever tasted!

Granny Smith tomato would be excellent for making salse verde - a great substitute for those golf ball sized tomatillos. It's also great for fried green tomatoes - the big slices are nice and firm and hold together very well when frying or grilling. Also try full slices on a burger or sandwich for a great new taste experience or cut them up in wedges for salads.

Here's some confirmation from Ed Eckhoff, a farmers market grower and vendor in Woodland, California, who trialed Granny Smith when it first became available. He agrees the big slices are great for grilling and frying. Another vendor there grills them, people try them, then go to Ed to buy fresh Granny Smith tomatoes to take home. They taste better than other green tomatoes, which are often bitter, and they are very firm, so they hold together on the grill.