Farm Eighty4, Heirloom Tomatoes

Brent and Amanda Daw (below) grow 80 varieties of heirloom tomatoes on their Waitakere property, Farm Eighty4. Some are grown on just a couple of plants, others were planted by mistake, but those that make the pick are so gorgeous they cause fights at the Parnell market, where they are sold. “Especially when we don’t have very many, you can see the squabbling”, says Amanda. Chosen for their “vintage DNA”, the tomatoes are grown in coconut husk, kept mainly spray-free and picked from the glasshouse at optimal ripeness. Our judges loved the variety of shape, size and colour. Randomly picked from the box, they were firm to the knife, bursting with juice and each was noticeably different in flavour.

We found it too hard to pick a favourite but Brent the grower says his current pet tomato is a black variety called “tula”. “It has a very earthy flavour, quite meaty, good in a sandwich.” Look out for it at the market, but get in early — and watch your back.