Wendy’s Co. says it wants to make sure no one finds a mushy tomato on one of its burgers anymore. To do so, the chain is shifting its tomato production to vine-ripened tomatoes grown in greenhouses from those plucked from fields. The change comes as the use of fresh ingredients is becoming an increasingly important selling point for fast-food chains.
By largely moving production to the U.S. from Mexico, where Wendy’s currently gets the majority of its tomatoes, and using the more controlled setting of greenhouses, the company says it expects to be able to deliver more ripe—and therefore more flavorful—tomatoes to its restaurants. There are also fewer insects and plant diseases to contend with when tomatoes are grown inside.
The greenhouse-grown tomatoes will be available for Wendy’s sandwiches and salads at its more than 6,000 North American restaurants by early next year, the company said.