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      • Community Food Co-op, Downtown Store, 1220 North Forest Street at Holly StreetDowntown Store
        1220 North Forest Street at Holly Street
        Bellingham, Washington
        7 am - 9 pm
        360-734-8158
      • Cordata Co-Op exteriorCordata Store
        315 Westerly Road at Cordata Parkway
        Bellingham, Washington
        7 am - 9 pm
        360-734-8158
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You are here: Home / HOT OFF THE PRESS / A Guide to Tomatoes

A Guide to Tomatoes

A rich harvest of various varieties of tomatoes in the garden

Tomatoes are a common ingredient, yet most of us don’t shop the produce aisle knowing each variety. This guide to tomatoes will ensure you know which vibrant variety is needed for your recipes, snacking, canning, and more. For recipes, check out these options from our co-op friends.

A lot of cherry tomatoes from above

Cherry

All the benefits of a tomato in a tiny package — nutrient-dense and bursting with flavor. These tomatoes are perfect for salads, adding to skewers for the stovetop or grill, or even just for snacking!

Beefsteak

With more flesh than seeds or juice, beefsteak tomatoes are a keen choice for sandwiches. They are also great in salads, sauces, or juices!

Tomatoes ripen in the greenhouse. Red, yellow and green fruits of vegetables. Farming.
Top view flat lay of Zima, an orange grape tomatoes next to Angel Sweet grape Tomatoes. Both great for salads or snacking.

Grape

Less watery and sweet than their cherry counterpart, grape tomatoes can add a crisp bite to any salad. They are another great option for snacking. Pack some in your lunch this week as you would berries or grapes!

Heirloom Brandywine

Heirloom tomatoes are unique in their growing process. Heirlooms have not been hybridized. They are grown with flavor as the top priority. Because of this, they often have a thinner skin than hybrid tomatoes. Heirloom Brandywine tomatoes are large and perfect for just about anything! Use this variety in sauces, canning, juices, snacking, sandwiches, or salads.

Close up of colorful tomatoes, some sliced, shot from above
Group of fresh red roma tomatoes on display at local grocery mar

Roma

Roma tomatoes are one of the meatiest varieties. This makes them ideal for cooking. Add them to your next sauce, soup, or canned goods!

On-the-Vine

Tomatoes sold on the vine can continue to absorb nutrients from this dark green vine for many weeks. This variety is sweet, and that flavor especially shines through in slow-cooking! They’re often found in tomato soup. They’re also great for sauces or canning. If you prefer a sweeter tomato for your sandwich, this variety will do.

Ripe red tomatoes growing on a vine in a vegetable garden, England, UK
Organic fresh green tomatoes "Zebra" sold at local store in Provence region. France

Green

Green tomatoes are slightly sour, in a pleasant way! This flavor can carry into any sauces or salsas you use them for. Have you ever tried fried green tomatoes? Give this 15-minute recipe a try!

HOT OFF THE PRESS| PRODUCE| RECIPES cooking| fresh| produce| summer| tomato| tomato guide| tomatoes

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A bottle of rose sits next to a heart shaped candle, two bottles of nail polish, and two mineral bath packets.

Valentine’s Gifts for You and Yours

Show your Valentine, your Galentine, and yourself some love this Valentine’s Day with unique gifts, wine, flowers, chocolate, and more from the Community Food Co-op. We’ve curated some loving inspiration to make your Valentine’s Day special.  Heart Pillar from Big Dipper Wax Works Bask in the warm glow of this [...]
We stand with the AAPI community

Standing with Our AAPI Community

The Community Food Co-op is saddened by the continued violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community and condemns all hate crimes. The Co-op has zero tolerance for racism, and we continue to work to transform our organization and community for racial equity. Racial equity work is a […]

Woman athlete takes a break, drinking water from a reusable water bottle on a hot summers day

Optimal Hydration

Addressing Optimal Hydration Although everyone knows that water is essential for life, most don’t understand why drinking enough water is so important. Without water, humans can only survive for a matter of days. To prevent dehydration all land animals (us humans included) have evolved very sensitive physiological controls to maintain […]

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DOWNTOWN STORE & DELI • map • 360-734-8158 • 7 am – 9 pm
meat and deli counter: 7 am – 7 pm
made-to-order counter: 7 am – 6 pm
salad/hot bar: 7 am – 6 pm

CORDATA STORE & DELI • map • 360-734-8158 • 7 am – 9 pm
meat and deli counter: 7 am – 7 pm
made-to-order counter: 7 am – 6 pm
salad/hot bar: 7 am – 7 pm

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