Black Cherry tomato has emerged victorious as Australia’s premier tasting heirloom tomato. In a celebration marking the 30th anniversary of the inaugural Diggers Great Tomato Taste Test, a distinguished panel of gardening luminaries and culinary experts bestowed this honor upon the renowned heirloom variety.
Cherry Tomato category winner: Black Cherry
The Black Cherry tomato also won the Cherry Tomato category.
The most delectable tomatoes frequently come in petite packages, and Black Cherry indisputably shone in the Cherry Tomato category.
These prolific little wonders are effortlessly grown, yielding bountiful harvests, and seamlessly complement salads, lunch boxes, and serve as delightful garden snacks plucked straight from the vine in gardens throughout Australia.
True to its name, this American heirloom variety, reminiscent of cherries with its dark, juicy, and sweet fruit, boasts a flavor profile that stands unrivaled. The Black Cherry tomato is available from the Digger’s Club.
Salad Tomato category winner: Sweet Cassidy
Claiming the top spot in the Salad Tomato category was Sweet Cassidy — a medium-sized fruit that embodies the luscious sweetness akin to that of a cherry tomato.
As a recent inclusion in the Diggers Club collection, unearthed from their seed vault, it became evident that this tomato held a remarkable distinction.
A gracefully elongated striped salad tomato renowned for its exceptional flavor profile.
This charming plum variety emits a delightful blend of sweetness and spice, tantalizing the senses with its aromatic allure.
Beefsteak and Saucing Tomato category winner: Nonna Pepina
Taking the crown in our Beefsteak and Saucing Tomato category was Nonna Pepina. Renowned for their substantial, meaty texture, beefsteaks are perfect for slicing or incorporating into sauces.
Meanwhile, saucing tomatoes, characterized by their abundant flesh and fewer seeds, offer unparalleled versatility in the kitchen, making them an essential ingredient for various culinary endeavors.
Discovered through the Diggers Club seed donation program, this exceptional heirloom beefsteak tomato carries with it a rich narrative and unparalleled flavor.
Saving our plant heritage
According to Tim Sansom, CEO of the Diggers Club and Foundation, the festivities were not only about honoring a champion but also about safeguarding the rich diversity of tomatoes.
“These heirloom varieties represent an important cultural heritage that we’re in danger of losing if we allow supermarket hybrids to totally take over,” Mr Sansom said.
Each of us has the power to contribute to the conservation of open-pollinated, heirloom seed varieties by simply making conscientious choices regarding the seeds we sow in our gardens. This practice empowers us to maintain authority over what we cultivate and ultimately consume, ensuring that such decisions remain within the realm of gardeners rather than falling into the hands of large corporations.
Diggers Great Tomato Taste Test
Among the esteemed panelists was Blayne Bertoncello of O.MY Restaurant, recipient of the prestigious Good Food Guide Best Restaurant of the Year 2024 award. Joining Bertoncello were gardening icons Jane Edmanson and Costa Georgiadis, celebrated organic gardener Phil Dudman, Pietro Demaio, author of “Preserving the Italian Way,” Sandro Demaio, CEO of VicHealth, and three participants from the inaugural Diggers tomato taste test in 1993: garden writer Peter de Waart, and Diggers Club and Foundation co-founders Penny Blazey and Clive Blazey.
Mr Sansom, CEO of the Diggers Club and Foundation, revealed that over 65 heirloom tomato varieties were cultivated in anticipation of the event. From these, the top selections across three categories—beefsteak and saucing, cherry, and salad—were presented to the panel at Heronswood House and Gardens on the Mornington Peninsula for tasting and evaluation.
“The Diggers Foundation is preserving biocultural treasures like heirloom seeds to ensure they don’t disappear. By growing and saving seed of these precious heirlooms we can make sure that they will be accessible to future generations,” Mr Sansom said.
The Diggers Club is Australia’s premier community of gardeners, united in their mission to cultivate stunning and fruitful gardens for a sustainable tomorrow. Every profit generated by the Diggers Club is dedicated to the Diggers Foundation, supporting the conservation of historical gardens and the safeguarding of heirloom seeds and plants.
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