Buying Tomatoes
Comments from the author:
“This article has been dragged, kicking and screaming, from the old BretonDiary.”
Some general rules about buying and storing tomatoes. Once again, from the Saturday morning market at Josselin.
1). Only buy Tomatoes on the vine. Tomatoes that are still on the vine don't know that they have been picked. They might notice that there's no water coming up the vine but they're probably used to that.
2). Only buy local Tomatoes. Tomatoes that come from Morocco, Spain or wherever have been picked too early (before they are ripe). The have spent days (or weeks) in the backs of lorries. They may even have been treated to special gasses to make them last longer. They are not Tomatoes - they are imposters. They have no taste and, if you eat them, neither do you!
3). Only buy what you need for today. Buy your tomatoes on a daily basis. It's OK to buy just three or four (if you're single like me). Choose them carefully - no-one will mind. If they do mind, change your supermarket.
4). Never, ever put tomatoes in the fridge. If you buy them on the vine (and thus, they don't know they're dead) - why try to freeze all the flavour out of them. Imagine how perky you'd be if someone shoved you in a dark cold fridge for a few hours - especially if you were used to being outside in the sunlight and warmth.
My tomatoes get kept in a basket on the bookcase (yes, the one that gets all the afternoon sunlight). Sure, they won't last very long (a couple of days at most) but does that matter? Not at all - I buy my tomatoes every day.
