Regional & Seasonal: The Tomato Stall, Isle of Wight

An Isle of Wight nursery strives to spread the word about its flavoursome and varied tomatoes

AFRUITFUL VALLEY ON the Isle of Wight is bathed in mellow light. Sheltered by a range of lofty downs, the countryside lies open to the warming breeze of the south, which sends ripples through fields of golden corn and over grassy pastures that are dappled with late-season blooms offering a final, colourful salutation to the last weeks of summer. Sunnier than most parts of England, the Arreton Valley benefits from a unique maritime climate that has not only extended the flowering season, but led to a proliferation of vibrant island produce from growers of ruby-red cherries, earthy asparagus and even apricots. But perhaps the jewel in the island’s multifaceted crown is a humble summer staple, grown by a producer that prides itself on supplying the juiciest and most flavoursome offerings in the country: The Tomato Stall.

In the nursery on a 60-acre estate, large greenhouses are filled with tomato vines resplendent in blood red, orange, sunshine yellow, bright green and deep purple fruits; some are in various stages of ripening, others plump and ready to harvest. “The Isle of Wight has the most hours of sunshine compared to anywhere else in the UK,” says development manager Daniella Voisey. “Light is the key ingredient for any tomato crop, and we carefully select the varieties we know deliver on flavour, so this means lots of great-tasting tomatoes.” Flourishing on an island surrounded by sparkling waters, the sun’s reflection also helps to ripen the fruit, as well as the rich and fertile Arreton soil.

Though tomatoes have been grown here for more than 30 years, The Tomato Stall and its speciality varieties did not become established until 2007. “Britain had fallen out of love with this salad staple. Tomatoes were boring and tasteless, so we began a quest to grow the finest varieties that were full of flavour,” explains Daniella. The team decided to travel, selling the speciality organic and conventional tomatoes at farmers’ markets throughout the south of England and showcasing their rich flavours. They received a positive reception and, as demand grew, the passion for this versatile fruit was reignited.

Today, the tomatoes are sold at more than 20 farmers’ markets every week, and boxes are delivered direct to customers up and down the country. Each fruit is left to fully ripen on the vine, allowing the natural sugars to develop, before being hand-picked at their peak flavour and dispatched within hours. “We grow approximately 40 different tomatoes as part of our core range and trial up to 200 new varieties each year. There are

so many interesting flavour profiles to choose from. ‘Royal Star’ is an orange cherry tomato and tastes like apricots. We also have pink varieties in plum, beef and cherry that naturally offer a fruity palate. Recently, we’ve seen fantastic results in green tomatoes, which some may associate with a bitter taste. However, varieties such as green baby plum have convinced us that you can get a great balance of acidity and sweetness, which is very exciting.” This year, the expert growers will broaden their diversity with speciality aubergines and peppers.

The nursery operates a biodegradable growing system, composting any plant waste to enrich the soil the following year. Rainwater is also collected to irrigate the plants, while hard-working bumblebees take care of pollination.

Driven by a passion to find more ways to enjoy Isle of Wight tomatoes, the team have also produced a wide range of products that encapsulate the ‘flavour is foremost’ ethos, from chutneys and jams to flavoured crisps and cordials.

“It is our infatuation with flavour that drives everything we do” confirms Daniella. “Our mission is to help everyone enjoy tomatoes. Quite often that means bringing something no one has ever seen before, and that’s what we love most.”