Tomato – Golden Light
Solanum lycopersicum
This Roma type variety of tomato, Golden Light, was found to have a significant amount of Tetra-cis-lycopene by the non-profit organization Heritage Food Crops Research Trust, located in Whanganui, New Zealand. Golden Light has Tetra-cis-lycopene in the amount of 4.62 mg per 100gm fresh weight.
Tetra-cis-lycopene is only found in certain varieties of golden-orange tomatoes, which can only be determined by scientific research. Other orange colored tomatoes will be higher in beta carotene, while the type of lycopene will be the same as that found in red tomatoes. The existence of Tetra-cis-lycopene is from a genetic mutation. The benefit of Tetra-cis-lycopene comes from its different molecular structure, allowing for easy and complete absorption without heating.
Read the “Benefits” section below for more information about Tetra-cis-lycopene and why it’s important for cancer prevention.
Height: Indeterminate
Tetra-cis-lycopene: 4.62
Acid: Mid-range
Days to Harvest: 85
Fruit Size: 8 oz to 10 oz
Deer Resistant: no
Fruit: Meaty
Fruit Color: orange
Plant Color: green
Life Cycle: annual
Spacing: 2′ to 3′
Juglone Tolerant: no
Sunlight: full
Soil: well-drained
Water: consistent
Design Styles: food garden, potager
History
Golden Light is an heirloom variety, meaning it is open-pollinated, with seed passed down through the generations.
This variety is good for home gardens, make sure it receives good airflow and a balanced soil (best obtained with an application of compost) to prevent disease. Golden Light keeps well, it is a thick walled lower-acid tomato without a lot of juice.
Uses
These are ways you can use this plant in your landscape or farm:
* potager
* kitchen garden
* informal summer vining plant
Design
You can place the Golden Light tomato in a potager, kitchen garden, and as a vine inter-planted with cardinal flower.
Benefits
By choosing the Golden Light tomato, you will be feeding your body a variety with heightened ability to protect against certain cancers, and to maintain heart health.
Parting Thoughts
Golden Light, as with all Tangerine type tomatoes, should not be heated. When heated the health benefit goes away. This is a tomato that works well on salads and for stuffing. The only way to get all the health benefits of this tangerine type tomato is to buy from a local farmer or farmers cooperative, or to grow it in your own garden.
According to Dr. William W. Li in his book Eat to Beat Your Diet, “…lycopene activates thermogenesis in brown fat (found in the body) and staves off the creation of new fat cells. It is also anti-inflammatory and can starve cancer and fat by reducing their blood supply.”
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