Ripley Tomato

Gerald51 · January 9, 2009

I just did a search on this site for "Ripley" and found nothing. I live in East TN and they are a big deal in my area when they are in season.

A Lot of fresh markets and grocery stores carry them when they are in season. The big sales point is that they are "Ripley Tomatoes".

Does anyone know what variety of tomato they are?

Someone at the Farmers Market told me that are not as good as they use to be, because they bred them to have tougher skins after they became so poplar and they were being ship further and further away from where they were being grown.

Gerald

Worth1 · January 9, 2009

All I could find is a tomato festival in Ripley TN.
Folks from all over on the web were talking about these tomatoes.

I don't think there is a tomato named Ripley though I my be wrong.

I used to live in OK and everyone talked about the Spiro tomatoes.

I'm sure the growers in Ripley just grow good commercial tomatoes.
But again I could just be wrong.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...icial%26sa%3DN

Worth

Gerald51 · January 9, 2009

Yeah, I found the same stuff you did. One thing is 100% certain it is some kind of variety or another.

Though the years, the Ripley tomato looked about the same to me at every location it was being sold. So, I'm thinking it is just one variety.

Not a bad tasting tomato compared to your usual store bought tomatoes.

Downinmyback · January 9, 2009

I live about 30 miles from Ripley TN and there is no tomato varieties named Ripley. Ripley is close to the Mississippi River and it is the soil that they say make them special. It is the gumbo soil and the hot and humid weather I have try them and found nothing special about their flavor. They have a tomato festival every year but it is not a big deal but in Ripley. I image they used a hybrid Determine that could be picked half riped so they can be shipped.

Gerald51 · January 9, 2009

Yeah, nothing special, unless you have never eaten a really good tomato before. Then they are great!

I'm just curious to what variety it is that they are using, because the tomatoes all looked the same to me that they were calling "Ripley Tomatoes".

Worth1 · January 9, 2009

Try these folks

4. Tipton Farmers Co-Op
98 Roy Crain Rd
Ripley, TN
(731) 635-1811

I bet they can give you numbers to local farmers.

Hey you asked.

Worth

kygreg · January 9, 2009

Sounds like the same situation with the Granger County tomatoes in TN.

Downinmyback · January 9, 2009

There used to be alot of vegetable truck farmer in this area that would carry their produce to the Farmer Market in Memphis TN But when the laws were changed that all fruit and vegatables had to have a sticker on each tomatoes or Bell Pepper. but no more. Picksweet foods raises alot of vegetables in the same type soil and have a processing plant about 20 miles from Ripley.
I am sure the tomatoes do taste better than store bought as they do not have to be shipped as far or gassed to turn red.

elkwc36 · January 10, 2009

Just like Vidalia onions. Many think that is a variety. They grow more than one variety. Supposedly it is the soil that makes the taste. But have read where in some cases the soil is getting depleted and some feel the taste is not as great. JD

January 9, 2009	#1
Gerald51 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Germantown, TN Posts: 104	Ripley Tomato I just did a search on this site for "Ripley" and found nothing. I live in East TN and they are a big deal in my area when they are in season. A Lot of fresh markets and grocery stores carry them when they are in season. The big sales point is that they are "Ripley Tomatoes". Does anyone know what variety of tomato they are? Someone at the Farmers Market told me that are not as good as they use to be, because they bred them to have tougher skins after they became so poplar and they were being ship further and further away from where they were being grown. Gerald Last edited by Gerald51; January 9, 2009 at 04:18 PM. Reason: typo

January 9, 2009	#4
Downinmyback Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Northwest Tenn Posts: 59	Ripley Tomato I live about 30 miles from Ripley TN and there is no tomato varieties named Ripley. Ripley is close to the Mississippi River and it is the soil that they say make them special. It is the gumbo soil and the hot and humid weather I have try them and found nothing special about their flavor. They have a tomato festival every year but it is not a big deal but in Ripley. I image they used a hybrid Determine that could be picked half riped so they can be shipped. __________________ o my aching back

January 9, 2009	#8
Downinmyback Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Northwest Tenn Posts: 59	There used to be alot of vegetable truck farmer in this area that would carry their produce to the Farmer Market in Memphis TN But when the laws were changed that all fruit and vegatables had to have a sticker on each tomatoes or Bell Pepper. but no more. Picksweet foods raises alot of vegetables in the same type soil and have a processing plant about 20 miles from Ripley. I am sure the tomatoes do taste better than store bought as they do not have to be shipped as far or gassed to turn red. __________________ o my aching back

January 9, 2009	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	All I could find is a tomato festival in Ripley TN. Folks from all over on the web were talking about these tomatoes. I don't think there is a tomato named Ripley though I my be wrong. I used to live in OK and everyone talked about the Spiro tomatoes. I'm sure the growers in Ripley just grow good commercial tomatoes. But again I could just be wrong. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...icial%26sa%3DN Worth

January 9, 2009	#7
kygreg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: kentucky Posts: 1,019	Sounds like the same situation with the Granger County tomatoes in TN.

January 10, 2009	#9
elkwc36 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: SW Kansas Posts: 339	Just like Vidalia onions. Many think that is a variety. They grow more than one variety. Supposedly it is the soil that makes the taste. But have read where in some cases the soil is getting depleted and some feel the taste is not as great. JD