Reaction from Rob Baan (Koppert Cress) on investigation 'tasteless red tomatoes'
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"The open field tomato crops in the USA and especially in California are the most old-fashioned tomato crop in the world. Tomatoes are picked green, refrigerated and then ripened with ethylene treatment ripe while they build up many food miles then arrive fully red in New York.
"The much talked about uniform colour has to do with the difference between the usual tomato and greenback tomatoes especially grown in southern countries and have the image of having more flavour. This tomato is green on top, with bit of colour underneath and are red on the inside. Kumato is an extreme type of this.
"However most of the tomato flavour comes from the plant, which nourishes the fruit. The open field tomatoes in the USA are not up to taste when they are picked. Therefore, in the U.S. vine ripe tomatoes from the greenhouse are more and more appreciated by consumers there.
"In conclusion of the investigation that I made from various articles: nice for research scientists but completely misinterpreted by the popular press. Again with all the consequences of that. In short, the tastiest tomatoes are European tomato and the cleanest, nicest, are the Dutch!"
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