Bob Zeni aims to sell 10,000 heirloom tomato plants this year to help more Chicagoans experience the joy of a fresh tomato. Zeni has spent the past decade growing tomato plants in his suburban greenhouse and distributing them throughout the Chicago area. His annual sale has grown each year, with more than 7,000 tomato plants sold in 2023. He expects to sell about 10,000 this year, he told Block Club.
Zeni sells more than 120 varieties of heirloom tomato plants: the big red tomatoes people know best, small purple ones that are especially sweet and every kind in between. This year, Zeni also is selling more tabletop plants designed to thrive in city apartments, he said.
Zeni has been trying to change the world's perception of tomatoes for 10 years now. Why? About 20 years ago, he tasted a fresh heirloom tomato and "transcended," Zeni said.
"People ought to know what a great tomato tastes like, and they're not going to get that experience from a grocery store," Zeni said. "I want to fight back against people's perceptions of grocery store tomatoes that don't have any flavor because they've been off the vine for weeks.