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Since we had that scare a few years back in which tomatoes were first blamed for some killer contamination and later they found it was from Mexican chilies - we have not been able to purchase decent tomatoes in any local market.
This has been going on for years, so it is not just last year's blight that has affected them.
I remember that in the year of the scare many tomato farms were shut down - all needlessly.
I used to be able to get flavorful plum tomatoes even when the normal ones were out of season. Lately, even IN season they all taste like cr@p.
Yet, I see that the tomatoes in soup and cans are still as tasty as ever, so why can't we get those fresh at the market?
It depends on where you live, I suppose. My local grocers stock the lousy, mealy, water-flavored tomatoes as well as the flavorful, expensive varieties. The ones they sell loose were picked green and gassed with ethylene (just like they do bananas) so they never had a chance to develop flavor on the vine. The expensive ones sold in little clamshells, like Campari, seem to have more flavor. Also, the heirloom tomatoes sold in the local grocery stores have better flavor than the "salad" tomatoes.
If you have a farmer's market nearby, you might be better off getting your tomatoes there. Costco has Campari tomatoes in the clamshells for a decent price, too.
It depends on where you live, I suppose. My local grocers stock the lousy, mealy, water-flavored tomatoes as well as the flavorful, expensive varieties. The ones they sell loose were picked green and gassed with ethylene (just like they do bananas) so they never had a chance to develop flavor on the vine. The expensive ones sold in little clamshells, like Campari, seem to have more flavor. Also, the heirloom tomatoes sold in the local grocery stores have better flavor than the "salad" tomatoes.
If you have a farmer's market nearby, you might be better off getting your tomatoes there. Costco has Campari tomatoes in the clamshells for a decent price, too.
I was just going to post this. Campari tomatoes ROCK!
Ok, maybe when we move I will have better sources for tomatoes. I have two supermarkets here on the east coast and two farmers markets and they all stink.
So, I am probably in a bad area for tomatoes, even though we are close enough to New Jersey, which is supposed to be the best state for tomato growth. That's what bothers me - we should be getting good tomatoes.
Ok, maybe when we move I will have better sources for tomatoes. I have two supermarkets here on the east coast and two farmers markets and they all stink.
So, I am probably in a bad area for tomatoes, even though we are close enough to New Jersey, which is supposed to be the best state for tomato growth. That's what bothers me - we should be getting good tomatoes.
I have been able to find Camparis at every decent grocery store I've ever been too from Ohio to California.
I don't usually buy tomatoes in the winter, because here in the northeast any winter tomatoes are "hot house" tomatoes, or they are shipped in from other areas. The taste just isn't the same. I usually wait until the summer, then buy them when local Farmer's Markets open. I did just find some delicious cherry tomatoes called Santa's Sweets recently, though. My six year old and I have been eating them like candy. They're from Mexico. I also grow tomatoes in the summer, but they aren't ready until August.
Ok, maybe when we move I will have better sources for tomatoes. I have two supermarkets here on the east coast and two farmers markets and they all stink.
So, I am probably in a bad area for tomatoes, even though we are close enough to New Jersey, which is supposed to be the best state for tomato growth. That's what bothers me - we should be getting good tomatoes.
Which state grows the best tomato can be debated until the cows come home, which we have on CD in the past. I think my Hoosier maters are the best that is why I grow enough to can up to get us through the winter.
Just saw on the early show today FL's crop is in the tubes from the freeze they got. So they lost 75% of their crops that means higher prices at the groceries for the rest of us until gardens get planted.
AT this time of year, a produce buyer purchases what tomatoes he can find at a price that his customers are willing to pay.
Fundamentally, you have two choices - central Mexico and Florida - and that depends on which fields are ready.
Sure, you can ship in some vine ripened "on the vine" from Belgium or the Netherlands if you have customers willing to pay $5 or more per pound.
Time of year certainly plays into the problem. We all know Florida's tomato crop has suffered greatly. I'm sure we are getting some Mexican tomatoes in our Markets here. While I'm not seeing the greatest quality or varieties here prices aren't astronomical. The really noticeable difference is in price of canned tomato products. I use a lot of it!
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I think my Hoosier maters are the best that is why I grow enough to can up to get us through the winter. 
