Tomato – Golden Grape
Solanum lycopersicum
This small pear shaped ‘grape’ sized tomato, Golden Grape, 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 Grape has Tetra-cis-lycopene in the amount of 6.01 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 benefit of Tetra-cis-lycopene is that it has a 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: 6.01
Acid: Mid-range
Days to Harvest: 85
Fruit Size: ~.5 oz
Deer Resistant: no
Fruit: Meaty and firm
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 Grape 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 to prevent disease. Golden Grape 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 Grape tomato in a potager, kitchen garden, and as a vine inter-planted with cardinal flower.
Benefits
By choosing the Golden Grape Tomato, you will be feeding your body a varietal with a high tetra-cis-lycopene content.
Parting Thoughts
Golden Grape appears to produce as many tomatoes as similar type red varieties, although they are typically more meaty, less juicy, and acidic. 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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