While reading the online ScienceDaily today, I came across a piece of interesting food news: scientists at University of Florida have discovered the key to restoring great tomato flavor. According to the news release, during the past 50 years or so, commercial tomatoes have gradually lost their original tasty flavors. To put the flavors back to tomatoes, scientists have studied the DNA in a tomato gene (called “alleles”), identified the chemical combinations for better tomato flavors, and used genetic analysis to replace alleles in modern tomato varieties so that they can be more flavorful.
The technique involves classical genetics, not genetic modification, as it is “just fixing what has been damaged over the last half century to push them back to where they were a century ago, taste-wise.” To read this new release, click here.
This is certainly great news for food lovers. Tomato is one of the most common ingredients for cooking. If the tomatoes we buy at grocery stores taste as good as heirloom tomatoes, we will be able to make and eat more tasty salads, soups, and all sorts of dishes.
Technology never ceases to delight us, even when it comes to tomato flavors.
Maybe one day, technology will bring us flavors that we do not know of today. Be prepared to open you mind – and mouth – for new food technology development.
I have heard about GMO long back . They are genetically modified foods. However, the old flavours are restored, they seem to be a great threat to every organism in the earth including us. Technology should upgrade us but not degrade. This is my point of view. I apologize for not being with the topic
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According to the press release, this technique is “just fixing what has been damaged over the last half century to push them back to where they were a century ago, taste-wise,” and “involves classical genetics, not genetic modification.” So, hopefully, it will not pose serious threat to the environment and human health.
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Yeah, hope so.. Anyways, veggies are becoming tasteless nowadays. Nice read. Thanks for sharing 👍
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Great post!
I hope apples go next!
I remember Asimov talk about this flavorless food in The human robot 😉
Big hug, David
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Many of Asimov’s scientific vision and foresight are proving true nowadays. Thanks for sharing your thought!
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My pleasure 😊
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Not sure if this can be achieved, but indeed tomatoes are becoming so tasteless. I know that they are at the best in summer time, when they should be ripen and juicy and tasty, but even then it’s not the same taste l was used to as a child. Not to mention that the ones we buy from supermarkets look and taste like plastic. And the same happens to most fruit and vegetables. What a shame!
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Agree. The taste and feel of heirloom tomatoes are hard to come by. We’ll see how this technique can help. Thanks for haring your thought.
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That’s so very cool! Great article!
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It would be great if this techniques works! Thanks for sharing 🙂
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The press release says that commercialization of the technique may come in a few years. Hope it’ll work without adverse effects to health and environment. We’ll see. Thanks for your comment!
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Yes. This is good news. But I think. Maybe it is enough use again soil for growing tomatos.
And not special liquids ?
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Natural farming is a great idea for improving tomato taste. This technique is supposed to use classical genetics to restore flavors. We’ll see how it turns out. Thanks for commenting!
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First off, you have an awesome blog! I lived abroad for almost 10 years. When I came back I noticed our tomatoes were flavorless. Even the ones I bought at the farmers market. Let’s hope this changes. A good tomato can be an all-star in a recipe.
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Thanks for your comments! Agree: a good tomato can be an all-star in a recipe.
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Great informative read, thanks for the share Chris!!
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I’ve also noticed that many tomatoes are less juicy now than what they were when I was a child.
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I guess one of the problems that need today’s food technology to solve is how to deal with these side effects of commercial farming. Hopefully, there will be further progress soon.
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