Episode 80: Tomatoes

Tomatoes are often the reward for growing a summer garden. Native to South America, Mexico and Central America, the first evidence of its use for domestic cooking is from the Aztecs and other peoples in Mesoamerica.

Tomatoes can be consumed either raw or cooked, and in many dishes, sauces, salads and drinks. While tomatoes are actually fruits (botanically classified as berries), they are commonly used as a vegetable ingredient.

Miriam Rubin, joins Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley to talk about this popular garden staple. Miriam is a food writer, columnist, recipe developer, chef, and cookbook author. In her book Tomatoes, she explores the tomato’s rich history in southern culture.

Listen in to learn about why tomatoes grow better in the South, or what makes a tomato an heirloom. In addition to describing the history of hybrid tomatoes including why they were developed; she also dishes about the best tomatoes to grow in the Hudson Valley. This is a podcast episode not to be missed!

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Miriam Rubin

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden, Annie Scibienski

Resources: Tomatoes | Cornell Vegetables ; Growing tomatoes in home gardens

Last updated August 3, 2023