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Position
Together with Hoogstraten strawberries, Flandria tomatoes are the top sellers at Veiling Hoogstraten. Loose or on the vine, each tomato that leaves the shed is brimming with flavour and health, and that makes them very popular with Belgian and foreign consumers.
History
The tomato comes from the valleys of the Andes mountains in Peru. The Incas cultivated this fruit there. In about 1500, the tomato was brought to Europe as was the potato. Soon after the introduction of the tomato into Europe, it was also grown in the Netherlands. Not to eat, but only for ornamental use. It was believed to be a toxic plant, and until the 19th century, people continued to be wary of the tomato because of its resemblance to other toxic varieties of the nightshade family. In Italy, tomatoes were eaten from about 1560 onwards. There the tomato was considered to be a love apple. The French thought that eating ripe tomatoes could save a marriage. The tomato was called: "golden appel" or pimdor or pomme d'or. Now we know this fruit by the name "tomato". This name is derived from the Mexican word "tomana'. Tomana means "grow". The tomato appeared in our cookery books at about the end of the 19th century.
Arrivals / Availability
Flavoursome, high-quality Flandria tomatoes are available all year round. Supplies are most plentiful in the summer, but from March, the 9 segments of loose tomatoes and vine tomatoes are available.
A comparative statistical overview of the arrivals, volume of sales and average prices for tomatoes that have been traded in the last 2 years via Veiling Hoogstraten can be found here.
Nutritional value
Tomatoes are very rich in vitamin A, fibre and carotene.
Storage
Do not buy tomatoes too ripe. Their flavour is not so strong, and they are more difficult to use. It is best to buy tomatoes that feel firm and look shiny. Tomatoes are best stored at a temperature of 12 to 16°C with a relative humidity of 85 to 90%. A well-ventilated storage place keeps this fruit at its best. So keep tomatoes cool, but not in the fridge. They can be kept for at least a week. Tomatoes are very vulnerable to perishing at low temperatures. Storing them at too low a temperature also destroys the flavour.
Quality label
Flandria tomatoes have firm flesh, their colour is even all over the surface, they are shiny, regular in shape and free from deformation and blemishes.
Variety characteristics
The Flandria quality label was introduced in 1995, to meet the individual wishes of consumers, Flemish growers classified Flandria tomatoes into various segments of the market.
The classification is according to sorting, flavour and structure. In every segment, you can find a number of varieties, each with their own growing arrangements.
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