Orange cherry tomatoes are a classified as a group of cherry tomatoes that possess a recessive tangerine mutation, due to a high accumulation of prolycopene. Prolycopene is a pigment that is found in many orange colored food plants. Prior to the last decade, much of the tomato’s DNA remained a mystery until a group of plant geneticists from 14 countries collectively decoded the tomato genome. The results have revealed that tomatoes contain 31,760 genes, roughly 7,000 more than that of humans. While conclusions can be now more definitively made about coloring, shape and evolution, the results present even greater puzzles for scientists who hope to understand the tomato’s secrets.

Ethnic/Cultural Info

Mesoamerican farmers began domesticating cherry tomatoes in northern Central America. Eventually mutated fruits were selected, increasing size, shape and the amount of seed cavities. Evolution was essential in transforming the once small, inconspicuous but almost always perfectly round berries of wild tomatoes into the large variably-shaped fruits associated with modern cultivars.

Geography/History

All cherry tomatoes are descendents of the wild tomato, whose origins can be traced to coastal South America millions of years ago. The genetic makeup of cherry tomatoes, unlike larger common tomatoes has remained almost unchanged. The first cultivated tomato fruits were small, the size of berries and their flesh originally housed only two seed cavities. Orange cherry tomatoes have appeared in seed catalogs for over a century, yet there is no documented evidence citing their exact origins.

Seasons/Availability

Orange cherry tomatoes are available in the summer and fall.