Pear Tomato
Encyclopedia
Pear Tomato or teardrop tomatoes is the common name for any one in a group of indeterminate
heirloom tomato
es. It originated in Europe
in the 1700s. There are yellow, orange, and red varieties of this tomato
; the yellow variety being most common. They are generally sweet, and are in the shape of a pear, but smaller.
Pear tomatoes are commonly eaten raw, but can also be used as a garnish, as an ingredient in many different dishes and sauces, or in drinks.
and the United States
were introduced to the fruit. In 1752 records show the English using it for flavoring soups.
The first recorded yellow pear tomatoes were grown in Europe in 1805. In 1825 the Hudson's Bay Company
, Fort Vancouver
, once the headquarters of the fur trade
in the Northwest, operated a seven-acre farm filled with flowers, herbs, vegetables, and fruits, among which was the yellow pear tomato.
In 1847 three varieties of tomato, including the pear tomato, were grown for the table in the United States. In 1863 seedsman Joseph Ellis offered over a hundred varies of tomato seeds for sale in Utah
and Denver, including those of the yellow pear tomato. In 1889 George Thomas & Co. sold pear tomatoes.
In 1944 the Sun Journal
featured a piece called named "Dwarf Tomatoes" written by Dean Halliday, which discussed pear tomatoes.
In 2001 the Smithsonian Institution
in Washington, D.C.
completed their heirloom gardens surrounding the National Museum of American History
; in this garden pear tomatoes are featured.
Indeterminate growth
In biology and especially botany, indeterminate growth refers to growth that is not terminated in contrast to determinate growth that stops once a genetically pre-determined structure has completely formed. Thus, a plant that grows and produces flowers and fruit until killed by frost or some other...
heirloom tomato
Heirloom tomato
An heirloom tomato is an open-pollinated heirloom cultivar of tomato. Heirloom tomatoes have become increasingly popular and more readily available in recent years...
es. It originated in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in the 1700s. There are yellow, orange, and red varieties of this tomato
Tomato
The word "tomato" may refer to the plant or the edible, typically red, fruit which it bears. Originating in South America, the tomato was spread around the world following the Spanish colonization of the Americas, and its many varieties are now widely grown, often in greenhouses in cooler...
; the yellow variety being most common. They are generally sweet, and are in the shape of a pear, but smaller.
Pear tomatoes are commonly eaten raw, but can also be used as a garnish, as an ingredient in many different dishes and sauces, or in drinks.
History
The pear tomato originated in Europe in the 1700s. Within the next century both EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
were introduced to the fruit. In 1752 records show the English using it for flavoring soups.
The first recorded yellow pear tomatoes were grown in Europe in 1805. In 1825 the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
, Fort Vancouver
Fort Vancouver
Fort Vancouver was a 19th century fur trading outpost along the Columbia River that served as the headquarters of the Hudson's Bay Company in the company's Columbia District...
, once the headquarters of the fur trade
Fur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
in the Northwest, operated a seven-acre farm filled with flowers, herbs, vegetables, and fruits, among which was the yellow pear tomato.
In 1847 three varieties of tomato, including the pear tomato, were grown for the table in the United States. In 1863 seedsman Joseph Ellis offered over a hundred varies of tomato seeds for sale in Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
and Denver, including those of the yellow pear tomato. In 1889 George Thomas & Co. sold pear tomatoes.
In 1944 the Sun Journal
Sun Journal
Sun Journal can refer to several newspapers:* Sun Journal of Lewiston, Maine.* Sun Journal of New Bern, North Carolina....
featured a piece called named "Dwarf Tomatoes" written by Dean Halliday, which discussed pear tomatoes.
In 2001 the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
completed their heirloom gardens surrounding the National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History
The National Museum of American History: Kenneth E. Behring Center collects, preserves and displays the heritage of the United States in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific and military history. Among the items on display are the original Star-Spangled Banner and Archie Bunker's...
; in this garden pear tomatoes are featured.