Leamington greenhouse will begin growing the Tomberry tomato in the spring
By Kaitlynn Anderson
Staff Reporter
Farms.com
This spring, a new variety of snacking tomato will be introduced into greenhouses at NatureFresh Farms in Leamington, Ont.
The variety, known as the Tomberry, acquired its name based on its size. The fruit is approximately 0.5 to 1 cm in diameter and 1 to 2 grams in weight, according to a company release.
While the fruit may be small, it’s packed with flavour, Ray Wowryk, director of business development at NatureFresh Farms, said in an interview with Farms.com.
The size of the tomato “makes it ideal for salads, garnishes and snacking,” he said.
The variety will be part of the TOMZ snacking category, according to the release.
The “snacking tomatoes (in this category) are grown in state-of-the-art greenhouses to ensure that we deliver the best possible tomato each and every time they are picked,” Wowryk said.
The production of this tomato is part of an exclusive agreement between NatureFresh Farms and Eminent Seeds NL. The product will be sold in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, according to the release.
The company plans to expand production of the fruit to meet consumer demands.
“The Tomberry is unique in size and has caught the interest of our retail partners,” Matt Quiring, executive retail sales manager at NatureFresh, said in the release.
“The snacking trend in North America has exploded and we continue to search for new items that will help grow (this) category.”
Photo: NatureFresh Farms