Product Review of Backyard Farms Maine Grown Tomatoes

In Maine it is unheard of to have a garden quality tomato commercially available for at least nine months of the year. We live for summer gardens or Farmer's Markets to get the real taste of sun ripened tomato. "Backyard Beauties", a greenhouse grown product has provided fresh, delicious tomatoes for the past year. What a refreshing change for most Mainers and North Eastern U.S. consumers who could not stand the odd tasting tomatoes that have been our only choice for years. True tomato connoisseurs know that a tomato should never be refrigerated and this is the main problem with any being brought into our state in the winter months. These beautiful tomatoes even smell fresh from a garden when I find them in a display with about half a dozen ripe fruit on the vine at the grocery store.

In 2005 Backyard Farms was founded in Madison, Maine. The company put up a state-of-the-art 24 acre greenhouse that with Maine's low light winter conditions provided energy efficient technology that actually produced fresh tomatoes on the vine. This technology uses native bees for pollination, grow lights, thermal blankets, rainwater reclamation and 55 degree stable temperatures during transportation. These tomatoes are picked and shipped on the vine within 24 hours to over a dozen New England chain discount and grocery stores. The full list is on their website. www.backyardbeauties.com I have found them consistently at Hannaford Brothers stores in central Maine. Recently they were on the produce shelves at our local Wal-Mart.

I usually pick one off of a vine because I am the only one in my household that eats tomatoes. It rarely costs over one dollar. It is amazing to me to slice into the deep red skin and see quality slices emerge. 'Backyard Beauties" are delicious and I recommend them to anyone that can find them available in their area.
They are easy to find with the distinctive blue sticker with a tiny red tomato, white fencing and the words, "Backyard Beauties, New England Grown" imprinted on them.

During this time of salmonella contaminations the vine tomatoes and Maine tomatoes have been ruled safe to eat.