The name yellow grape is a marketing name given to tomatoes that have naturally mutated into an oval shape. Its yellow coloring is also due to the tomato containing a recessive gene. It is these naturally occurring mutations that are essential to the transformative evolution of the small, inconspicuous berries of wild tomatoes into the 6,000 known modern tomato varieties. In fact, there are now dozens of yellow grape tomato varieties, both heirloom and hybrid with names such as Lemon Fizz, Morning Sun and the legendary Hssiao His Hung Shih from Peiping, China.

Yellow grape tomato varieties share several common characteristics. They are petit, glossy and thin-skinned with a juicy flesh bearing two seed cavities. Yellow grape tomatoes are known for their sub acid qualities and tomato true flavors. The tomato plants produce dense, healthy foliage which converts more sunlight into sugars and other flavorful components, providing for a memorably rich, complex and sweet mouthful.

Nutritional Value

Yellow grape tomatoes can be used in any given recipe, fresh, hot or cold, calling for cherry tomatoes. More importantly though, their first and foremost use is for fresh eating. Raw Red cherry tomatoes are quintessential salad and salsa tomatoes. Mature fruits can be processed and cooked to make ketchup, compotes and jams. They can also be blanched, pureed and made into soups, sauces and sorbets. Pair yellow grape tomatoes with companion ingredients that also happen to be in season, as fruits and vegetables require a certain soil temperature and level of daylight sun to synthesize sugar and flavor components.

Geography/History

All tomato cultivars can trace their historic heritage to coastal South America where 11 species of wild tomatoes have been growing for millions of years. Cherry tomatoes evolved from wild tomatoes to become the first domesticated species of tomatoes. It wasn't until the early 1900's though that breeders reported the segregation of an oval-shaped tomato fruit characterized by a constriction at the ends of the fruit. It was discovered that this was due to a gene known as the ovate gene. However, the origin of this spontaneous mutation is unknown. The given name grape tomato was first used in 1998 by the grower Andrew Chu, who took a hybrid variety Santa F1 from near obscurity to a commercial success. Santa F1 essentially launched the campaign for grape tomato varieties world wide.

Seasons/Availability

Yellow grape tomatoes are available during summer into fall.