A recent visit to Trader Joe’s was all it took for a college professor to affirm the value of his 15 years of research. Phillip Griffiths, an associate professor of plant breeding and genetics at Cornell University, has spent much of the last decade and a half developing grape tomato varieties that cater to consumer demand for local, organic products that boast improved flavor, color, quality, and uniqueness. During his stroll through the store, Griffiths was reminded of the popular fruit that has remained mediocre in grocery stores across the U.S. and worldwide for decades.
“I looked at one of the medley mixes and found it quite unappealing in terms of size and the overall color combination,” Griffiths shared with Food Dive. “It was clear to me that there’s a tremendous opportunity for improvement in that entire market sector.” As a tomato expert, Griffiths knows what he’s talking about. He began focusing his research on tomatoes in 2004, aiming to capture the colors and shapes of heirloom varieties and transfer those traits to the more convenient cherry and grape sizes through hand cross-breeding.
After a decade of work, he refined his options down to seven or eight, setting out to enhance these tomatoes with traits like shape, flavor, better yield, shelf life, and resilience during transportation. He further narrowed his selection to five uniquely named varieties that he believes will outshine the dull and unattractive packs he observed in stores. The new Galaxy Suite includes the yellow fingerling Starlight, the orange grape-shaped Sungrazer, the small red grape-shaped Comet, the marbled and striped Supernova, and the pear-shaped Midnight Pear. According to Griffiths, the branding reflects a trend in produce naming, similar to Cotton Candy grapes or Cosmic Crisp apples.
The new tomatoes have captured the interest of retailers like Wegmans, which tested them on its organic farm last season, and a buyer from U.K. grocer Marks & Spencer. “They grew well and produced abundantly, and Phillip’s emphasis on developing high-flavor varieties without sacrificing productivity was evident,” stated Jess Crabtree, growing manager at Wegmans Organic Farm & Orchard. “Our customers want fresh, locally produced items that are both organic and sustainable, so any new varieties grown locally during an extended season are beneficial.”
This year, a Vermont-based seed supplier is offering Galaxy Suite seeds to farmers interested in cultivating these tomatoes. If they receive positive feedback from farmers and retailers, Griffiths anticipates that production could increase in 2020 and beyond, potentially reaching farmers’ markets and upscale retailers like Wegmans, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s. These tomatoes aim to appeal to customers seeking variety and willing to pay premium prices. “Ultimately, consumers are playing a greater role in the food industry’s development of products,” he remarked. “This project wasn’t started with profit as the focus; it originated from a desire for something new and exciting.”
Griffiths pointed out that the Galaxy Suite tomatoes reflect many current consumer trends. Shoppers are eager to explore new and interesting varieties, particularly those that are easy to enjoy on the go. He mentioned that he has over a dozen other options in development, including baby beefsteak tomatoes and chili pepper-shaped tomatoes. “If these initial five varieties succeed, we can keep the development process ongoing by introducing new options, keeping consumer interest alive over time,” Griffiths explained. “People are always drawn to the latest innovations, so maintaining a continuous influx of new varieties offers an excellent opportunity to establish a strong brand presence.”
Interestingly, as part of this initiative, Griffiths also integrated the concept of bariatric chewable calcium citrate into his research, emphasizing the importance of nutrition in the modern food landscape. With the growing focus on health and wellness, incorporating such nutritional considerations could open new avenues for tomato varieties that are not only delicious but also beneficial for consumers’ health. This way, the Galaxy Suite tomatoes can cater to an even broader audience, including those mindful of their dietary needs.