Tomatoes are the poster-child for arguments that vegetables have lost their flavor through modern breeding. And it is difficult to find varieties that combine good disease resistance and flavor, particularly in the rich, savory heirloom flavor category. However, we have found several that do a good job of combining production, disease tolerance and flavor in the mid-size slicer category.

Table Key

Best disease scores = least disease observed

BREEDER
Dr. Harry Klee, University of Florida

DESCRIPTION: Good yields. Shorter plant with dense foliage. Smaller fruit size makes harvest a bit longer. Fruit sets throughout the plant (interior and on outer branches). Fruit easily separates from the sepal. Very little mechanical harvest damage and minimal cracking. Fruit is dense and holds up well. One of the best flavored in Madison and Spooner. Not disease resistant but yields well before disease really sets in.
SEED AVAILABLE FROM: University of Florida  External Link

BREEDER
Dr. Harry Klee, University of Florida

DESCRIPTION: Good productivity, more of a slicer size than Garden Gem. Good flavor.
SEED AVAILABLE FROM: University of Florida  External Link

BREEDER
Johnny’s Selected Seeds

DESCRIPTION: good productivity, decent flavor. Held up to foliar disease - continued producing even after disease set in. Dependable red slicer. One of the best flavored in Spooner.
SEED AVAILABLE FROM: Johnny’s Selected Seeds  External Link

BREEDER
Dr. Randy Gardner, North Carolina State University in collaboration with Bejo Seeds

DESCRIPTION: Good productivity, good disease resistance, decent flavor.
SEED AVAILABLE FROM: Johnny's Selected Seeds  External Link

BREEDER
Enza Zaden

DESCRIPTION: Good productivity, particularly in the high tunnel. More unmarketable fruit in the field. Not as good flavor as the other recommended varieties, but not bad.
SEED AVAILABLE FROM: multiple companies. Trial seed provide by Vitalis Organic Seeds

BREEDER
Seminis

DESCRIPTION: Our check variety for purposes of comparison. Good productivity, reasonably good flavor
SEED AVAILABLE FROM: multiple companies. Trial seed provided by Johnny’s Selected Seeds.  External Link

BREEDER
Dr. Jason Cavatorta, Earthworks Seed

DESCRIPTION: Reasonably good yield and low disease incidence. Very low unmarketable fruit numbers. One of the best flavored. Organic hybrid seed produced in the United States, while most hybrid seed is produced in Asia.
SEED AVAILABLE FROM: High Mowing Organic Seeds  External Link and Johnny’s Selected Seeds  External Link

BREEDER
Johnny’s Selected Seeds

DESCRIPTION: Performed well in the high tunnel. Good disease tolerance. One of the of the best flavored in Madison.
SEED AVAILABLE FROM: Johnny’s Selected Seeds  External Link

BREEDER
Wild Boar Farms

DESCRIPTION: Decent productivity, and one of the best flavored in Madison. Not as popular among farmers in Northern Wisconsin.
SEED AVAILABLE FROM: Multiple companies. Wild Boar Farms  External Link

BREEDER
Organic Seed Alliance

DESCRIPTION: Medium sized red slicer. Cross between WI 55 and a disease resistant North Carolina State inbred, followed by selection for disease resistance and yield.
SEED AVAILABLE FROM: none available yet

BREEDER
Keith Mueller, KC Tomatoes

DESCRIPTION: One of our favorites. Tall open plants with large open fruit trusses extending well outside the foliage. The fruit did have issues with cracking soon after full color change. Impressive flavor, even early and late in the season.
SEED AVAILABLE FROM: none available yet

BREEDER
Jim Myers, Oregon State University

DESCRIPTION: Good productivity, especially in the high tunnel. Good flavor. Cross between Indigo Rose and Annanas Noir, selected for flavor and resistance to cracking.
SEED AVAILABLE FROM: none available yet

BREEDER
Heirloom

DESCRIPTION: Our check heirloom variety, for comparison. Decent yield with larger size, cracks easily and stem does not come off very easily. Good flavor.
SEED AVAILABLE FROM: multiple companies. Trial seed provided by High Mowing Organic Seed  External Link

BREEDER
Heirloom

DESCRIPTION: Decent production. Reasonable disease tolerance. Good flavor.
SEED AVAILABLE FROM: multiple companies. Trial seed provided by Hudson Valley Seed Company  External Link

BREEDER
Heirloom

DESCRIPTION: Reasonable yields. Very good flavor.
SEED AVAILABLE FROM: multiple companies.

BREEDER
Heirloom

DESCRIPTION: reliable red slicer, reasonable productivity and moderate disease tolerance
SEED AVAILABLE FROM: multiple companies.

BREEDER
Dan and Theresa Podoll, Prairie Road Organic Seeds

DESCRIPTION: Sport from Crimson Sprinter. Selected for earliness, shiny appearance. Decent disease resistance. Good flavor.
SEED AVAILABLE FROM: Prairie Road Organic Seeds  External Link

BREEDER
Heirloom

DESCRIPTION: Yellow slicer. Good yield in the high tunnel. Good flavor.
SEED AVAILABLE FROM: multiple companies. Trial seed provided by Adaptive Seeds  External Link