NEW…. WAIT-WHAT!
PURPLE TOMATOES FROM SNAPDRAGON PLANTS?
Tomatoes are by far the most popular garden fruit (vegetable) in the USA. The characteristics of tomato plants have completely changed over the years. Original native tomato plants from South America have tiny, unpalatable and sometimes toxic fruits. Many years of cross breeding have developed tomato plant types to meet the market needs of fruit size, color, sweetness, acidity, vine length, and various maturities.
GMO Development. It has been well over 30 years since GMO technology has advanced significantly enough to transfer specific genes from one organism to another. This is called Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). This process was mostly random and utilized a gene gun which forcefully shoots particles of gene fragments coated onto microscopic gold particles in the hope the genes insert into the plant’s genome.
Enter CRISPR technology. New plant varieties are being developed using advanced CRISPR techniques. With surgical precision, specific genes can be snipped and inserted into the genetic material of another plant. Natural breeding techniques used in the past also produce changes in plants; however, the process is very slow and tedious. Natural breeding mixes up thousands of genes from one organism into another to create new organisms having unknown characteristics. CRISPR does away with the random assortment.
Enter the Purple Tomato™ In 2025 Norfolk Healthy Produce ™ commercially released a true purple tomato™ called you guessed it, “The Purple Tomato ™” which has been renamed Althea™. This is the first bioengineered purple tomato™ variety that incorporates 2 genes from a snapdragon flower. The plants are legally variety-protected, cannot be resold and can only be grown within the USA. Althea is a tall variety (12-15’) indeterminate, large-cherry type, with a 70-day maturity.
The taste is said to have a balanced sweetness and acidity and a savory umami flavor. The purple color is due to anthocyanins, which are one of many flavonoids found in plants. Medical trials have determined that diets high in flavonoids can have significant heart health benefits including:
- antioxidant properties to protect your cells, `
- lowers blood pressure, inflammation, and,
- reduces bad cholesterol (LDLs) and plaque buildup in arteries.
Although the Purple Tomato ™ contains only 1/10th of the anthocyanins contained in blueberries, it is a new food option to support a heart healthy diet. As a bonus, the shelf life of this tomato is reported to be twice as long as conventional red tomatoes.
Two other varieties have been released for 2026 planting include:
- Dark Hollow™. Is a larger all-purple tomato™ The fruit is a larger medium size (cocktail-type), tall (12-15’) indeterminate variety with a 60-day maturity.
- The Eleven™ has golf ball size fruit and contains the same antioxidants as the Althea and Dark Hollow, except having yellow and hazel striped fruit.
AgriLife Extension and Williamson County Master Gardeners will have a demonstration area to assess the growth and taste-test the Purple Tomato™ compared to non-bioengineered varieties. Stay tuned for announcements of events at our Demo Garden this winter and spring.
In the meantime, check out the gardening catalogues to see what else is new for 2026 planting season. Gardening is Great!
All photos courtesy Norfolk Healthy Produce ™
More information on Norfolk Healthy Produce ™ and the Purple Tomato™ :
https://www.norfolkhealthyproduce.com/pages/press-kit
Gary Pastushok
County Extension Agent – Horticulture
Williamson County AgriLife Extension Office
Georgetown, Texas 78626
512-943-3300
https://williamson.agrilife.org
Disclaimer: References to products or treatments are for educational purposes only and do not imply endorsement by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service or constitute medical advice.
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