This has been a bad year for tomatoes, and I have suffered. I love tomatoes. Crave them. Remember eating them right from the garden, with the sun still on them, back when they were tomatoes. Sometimes I settle for less than true tomato-ness because even the semblance of the real thing is better than nothing at all. But ever since I did a story about LaVanway Farms I have been thinking about their heirloom tomatoes. How, I wondered, were those tomatoes coming along? Surely it must be time for them to ripen . . . and so yesterday, on my way back from East Jordan, I made a detour to investigate.
Brad LaVanway came out to greet me. Were the tomatoes ripe? “Mom’s out picking right now.” I wasted no time, but trotted straight out to the tomato patch where Carolyn was at work in the drizzle in her bright yellow slicker. Oh splendid sight! Green Zebra tomatoes, rosy ones, white ones, a multicolored Pineapple Tomato variety.
I bought two quarts, sand and all, and headed home. I hadn’t gone a quarter mile before I had to pull over, wipe one off, and eat it. Real tomatoes. Lumpy, knobby, flavorful tomatoes. Ahhh.
By the time I got back to the Writing Studio and Bait Shop there were not quite so many tomatoes to carry inside. I washed them and made a cheese and tomato sandwich. I thought about making another sandwich, but resisted temptation. Here is a Still Life from the darlings that remain. Yes, those pretty green ones are ripe. And the white one. They’re all ripe. It’s time. The Tomatoes Are In.
Torch Lake Views 
La Mirada Bob
August 26, 2009
You are descended from a long line of tomato lovers.
Gerry
August 27, 2009
Indeed I am. I believe tomatoes repel muskies.
uphilldowndale
August 26, 2009
Wonderful, is there anything finer than the smell of fresh tomatoes or the taste of a cheese and tomato sandwich.
Gerry
August 27, 2009
Nope.
Chris Allen-Wickler
August 26, 2009
Wish there was more sun in my garden to grow the tomatoes I crave. Mouth watering words Gerry! The TC Farmers Market usually meets my needs … got a big bucket of tom’s today so I could make chips for this winter! Also ran into Babs and met Jackie on Front Street!
Gerry
August 27, 2009
I had not thought to make chips. See, there you go–the value of blogging. Value Added Agriculture, too.
That Babs. She’s everywhere.
flandrumhill
August 27, 2009
They do make a beautiful still life. What variety! They make the ones at the grocery store seem so dull and monotonous in comparison. My husband absolutely loves tomatoes. I gave up growing them last year. It was too heartbreaking to not see them grow into the fruits of his imagination.
Gerry
August 27, 2009
I believe that the people who brought us uniformly sized and colored tomato-like objects underestimated the importance of flavor. Perhaps they will now go back into their labs and come out with something better. Of course, nothing will ever compare with our memories of the perfect tomato.
winderjssc
August 27, 2009
Wonderfully evocative account of those lovely tomatoes. We can’t seem to get the old-fashioned really tasty tomatoes in ordinary shops here in England any more. I tried to grow some of my own this year without success but I’ll have another go next year. Wish I could reach my hand into your blog still-life picture and help myself – they look delicious.
Gerry
August 27, 2009
Thank you. They were delicious. We don’t get these at the grocery store either. Happily, more and more are available at farmers markets in our region. Mama Nature has been very sparing with sunshine this year, and as I write it is only 49 chilly degrees out there, so we may not have as many tomatoes as we would like, even after all the farmers’ efforts.