Tomato season is going according to plan at Harvest Lane Farm Market. That’s as it should be. After all, the farm uses high tunnels to improve the consistency and quality of the crop.
James Stahl and his family once grew tomatoes in open fields at the farm. But when they shifted their focus from wholesale to retail some years ago, they found high tunnels were a good solution.
In protecting the crop from the rain, the tunnels increased the packout and allowed the Stahls to grow soft, flavorful varieties rather than the firm, bland cultivars developed to withstand shipping.
The farm’s go-to variety, for the better part of a decade, has been BHN 589. Though it lacks a catchy name and produces more undersized fruits than Stahl would like, the variety provides something consumers won’t find at the supermarket.
“The flavor, for us, has just been great,” Stahl said. Stahl and his family grow 1 acre of tomatoes under high tunnels in northern Lancaster County. Three-quarters of the area under plastic is for beefsteak tomatoes, with the rest holding grape and cherry tomatoes and Roma types for sauce. Among the cherry varieties is Sungold, which produces fruits that are sweet, juicy, and light orange.
Read more at lancasterfarming.com
