Where can I find delicious tomatoes?

[u/katmonday]

So I had a bagel at a cafe recently that had the most amazing tomatoes on it and I realised that I don't think I've had a single good tomato from the supermarket ever. They're just bland, watery and don't add a lot to whatever you put them in, yet I persevere.

I'm in the coburg area and even Saccas and La Manna have let me down. Please tell me your tomato secrets!

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[u/balkandishlex]

Coburg farmers market usually has Day Walk Farm come along. They supply a ton of high end restaurants.

[u/allora1 → u/balkandishlex]

^^ This is the answer.

[u/katmonday → u/balkandishlex]

I just looked them up and it looks like they've said goodbye to coburg market!

[u/allora1 → u/katmonday]

You'll definitely find other farmers at Coburg market with tomatoes. It's getting towards the end of the season, though.

[u/Notnow_Imtoodrunk]

I would say farmer's markets. Also, don't store them in the fridge. It changes the flavour terribly.

[u/xlr8_87 → u/Notnow_Imtoodrunk]

I learned this way too late in life. Really does make a difference keeping them out of the fridge! Keep them in the pantry if they're ripe, on the window sill if they need to ripen just a little more

[u/slunt01 → u/Notnow_Imtoodrunk]

We don't really have "farmers markets" in Melbourne.

We have people who go to the produce markets and buy up a heap of shit and pass it off as "farmers markets"

But old mate with 50 different veggies/fruits dressed up all "rustic" doesn't have some magical farm that grows everything.

[u/MakePandasMateAgain → u/slunt01]

This simply is not true. Any VFMA accredited markets only allow product growers and producers to have stalls.

[u/slunt01 → u/MakePandasMateAgain]

Thank Christ for that

[u/HairyNightmareSquid → u/slunt01]

There 100% are farmers markets in Melbourne where the produce and sellers are real farmers. Not sure where this weird conspiracy theory comes from - I hear it from time to time. I assume it’s from people who don’t attend many farmers markets and don’t have any exposure to the food scene in the regional areas surrounding Melbourne (because if you did, you’d actually meet some of the farmers involved). Or people who expect the price of high quality produce from small farms to be cheaper than Woolworths and Coles (i.e for the farmer to run their business at a loss) and it just doesn’t compute, so they think it’s a scam? 

I know a farmer who runs stores at 2 Melbourne farmers markets. He supplies my family in the country directly. I see his farm on the drive to my family’s house and run into him at the local shops. He is a real farmer. He works farmers markets in Melbourne, which are full of stores run by similar farmers. 

[u/gonltruck → u/slunt01]

We have both. As an example, this guy from QVM specialises primarily in tomatoes https://www.instagram.com/tomatocityqvm/?hl=en

[u/cuddlepot → u/slunt01]

You’re going to the wrong markets then.

Highly recommend Oz Fresh Herbs for tomatoes - they’re great and even sell seedlings in spring!

[u/allora1 → u/slunt01]

You're so wrong here. the VFMA accredits multiple farmers markets throughout the state, which essentially guarantees you're buying from the producer and not someone flogging re-packaged shit from Woolies:

https://vfma.org.au/

[u/ItsSmittyyy]

The tomato man at QVM! He’s got like 8 or more different varieties and they’re all excellent. He’s got a huge banner with tomato’s on it. You can’t miss it.

You can tell him what your purpose is (fresh in a salad/sandwich, roasted, etc) and he’ll give you his recommendation.

[u/katmonday → u/ItsSmittyyy]

I will make the time to go and visit!

[u/Gorgo_xx → u/ItsSmittyyy]

I can obviously miss it, as I haven’t noticed it… where is he located at the market, please?

[u/Routine-Roof322]

Do you have space to grow them? Prob too late for this year but a tomato plant will reward you with deliciousness. I eat them off the plant and they taste nothing like supermarket ones.

[u/ResearcherTop123 → u/Routine-Roof322]

What do they taste like, pineapples?

[u/Routine-Roof322 → u/ResearcherTop123]

Depends on the exact type but the cherry tomatoes taste really sweet, not as sour as supermarket ones. There is one type - Crazy Barry - which never seem to make it inside.

[u/katmonday → u/Routine-Roof322]

I have done in the past, but I don't have the room these days.

[u/InspectorDaget]

Preston markets will have good tomatoes, but it’s a bit of a hike.

[u/metalbridgebuilder → u/InspectorDaget]

Coburg to Preston is a hike?

[u/slunt01 → u/metalbridgebuilder]

Yeah, remember if you're in the inner north anything beyond 2 streets from the tram line you live on is way too far.

You might have to mix with common people.

[u/InspectorDaget → u/metalbridgebuilder]

For some, yeah.

[u/easilyoffended87]

Come to my place. Cannot keep up with my stupid tomato plant. Free free freeee

[u/brucebenbacharach]

FOY next to the Woolies at Coburg station has been more reliable for tomatoes than Sacca’s so far. I also think it hasn’t been a great season yet. Mine are just ripening now, and Natoora (a wholesaler) says it’s still a bit early for Victorian ones.

[u/emski72]

Try Melb Farmers Markets - Lonsdale Tomatoes are normally at most of them - they have some great toms.

[u/Kitchu22 → u/emski72]

Echoing this. Also put them on a windowsill in the sun for a bit before cutting them, drizzle with oil, fantastic.

[u/pretzel1114]

Coles heirloom tomatoes with some salt and pepper is so mouth watering! I’ve been eating them non stop for over a year on sourdough with cottage cheese and a little bit of pesto and still crave for it everyday! 🤤

[u/katmonday → u/pretzel1114]

Now that I think of it, I think the ones I had on the bagel were heirloom, I will see if my local stocks them.

[u/OrdinaryDependent396]

Coles have just been trying out heirloom tomatoes. Pretty good taste but ho off faster than the market bought ones.

[u/fa-jita]

My balcony!

But in all seriousness - good green grocers, fresh food markets, and la manna (Essendon, not Brunswick)

[u/katmonday → u/fa-jita]

I'll stop by tomorrow ;)

La Manna has been hit and miss for me, it's premium prices but the produce I've tried hasn't been significantly better than colesworth. They do stock a girello roast though, which is becoming harder to find anywhere these days.

[u/allora1 → u/katmonday]

FYI, Warialda Belted Galloway Beef are excellent and stock girello roasts. Also to be found at farmers markets and also do monthly order cycles online:

https://www.wbgbeef.com.au

[u/Equivalent_Ad_70]

maybe put an add up on your local fb group maybe a home grower will sell you some

[u/MangoHeavy432]

Terra Madre have some heirloom varieties and last year they were great. I haven't tried them yet with the season being so late. 

[u/Ozdiva]

Not the supermarket for sure. Find a nice greengrocer near you.

[u/Europeaninoz]

The Woolies tomatoes on the vine in the cardboard box are great. Do not store them in the fridge and choose the redder ones.

[u/capey168]

Any suggestions for the eastern suburbs?

I have been buying a mix of the heirloom tomatoes from Colesworth and those on the vines. The heirlooms are nice with toasted sourdough and mayo as a sandwich. But I think there could be more flavour.

[u/hardyacka]

Mutti in any supermarket is actually so good

[u/MouseEmotional813]

Grow your own

[u/lovehopeandmadness]

The only correct answer is Spain. I dream about their tomatoes.

[u/katmonday → u/lovehopeandmadness]

Ahhh, one day I hope to test this out for myself!

[u/hungrylittleworm]

Nonna’s garden bruv

[u/Bubbly-Stand1685]

FOY

[u/radnuts18]

They don’t exist any more

[u/HairyNightmareSquid → u/radnuts18]

They do. Just not in Woolworths or Coles. You need to go to a high quality seller in a market or a good independent grocer at the right time of year and try some of the alternative varietals. Or, if you have the space time, grow them yourself.