Bursting with colour, flavour, and funky character, our organic heirloom tomatoes are at their juicy best right now - but they come with some care tips to get the best results out of your produce.
Before you toss them in a salad or sandwich, here’s what makes heirlooms so special - and why they need a little extra TLC in your kitchen.
What Are Heirloom Tomatoes?
Heirloom tomatoes are grown from open-pollinated seeds passed down through generations - often over 50 years or more. Unlike gourmet tomatoes, which are bred for uniformity and longer shelf life, heirlooms are all about flavour, colour, and natural variety.
You’ll notice:
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A wider range of colours - from brilliant red to deep purple to sunshine yellow
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Unique shapes - usually a little lumpy or ribbed
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Incredibly rich, sweet-tart flavour - often described as real tomato taste
The heirloom tomatoes in your home-delivered box and at the farmers markets are grown with love on organic farms - just like all our produce at Good Harvest - with no synthetic inputs or GMOs. They’re as trustworthy as it gets.
Storage Tips: Handle With Care
Because heirloom tomatoes have thinner skin and softer, more delicate flesh than their traditional tomato cousins, they’re a little more sensitive to handling and storage.
Here's how to keep them at their best:
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Don’t refrigerate! Cold temps ruin texture and dampen the flavour. Store them at room temperature, out of direct sunlight.
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Place stem-side down on a plate or in a shallow bowl. This prevents air from entering and slows softening.
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Use within 3-4 days. We deliver them to you ripe and ready - so plan your meals around them as a highlight!
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Avoid stacking - these beauties bruise easily.
How to Enjoy
Heirloom tomatoes shine when served raw - their vibrant flavour and soft texture are perfect in:
- Caprese salads
- Open sandwiches or tarts with fresh herbs
- Sliced with olive oil, sea salt, and a splash of balsamic
- Lightly grilled and paired with basil or creamy ricotta
They don’t need much, just let the flavour speak for itself.
Why Choose Heirloom Over Gourmet Tomatoes?
Gourmet tomatoes can be great - with a firmer texture, more uniform shape, and a longer shelf life. But in that trade-off, you lose the burst of personality and taste that heirlooms offer.
If you love real food, these tomatoes are the closest you’ll get to pulling one off the vine and biting in under the sun.
Available Now at Good Harvest
Order heirloom tomatoes in your organic produce box this week or find them at one of our local farmers markets across the Sunshine Coast - Kawana, Noosa, Yandina, or our Coolum Warehouse.
