This study assessed the effects of moderate shipping on the quality of 10 heirloom tomato varieties. Each variety was transported 200 miles in cardboard boxes and assessed for physical damage before and after shipping. Significant post-harvest losses varied by variety, with Jaune Flamme, Stupice, and Chocolate Stripe showing the least damage, while Anna Russian, Purple Calabash and Cherokee Purple showed the most. The findings suggest certain heirloom varieties may be better suited than others for sales at farmers markets involving shipping.

1. Effects of Moderate Shipping on Sales Quality of Selected
Heirloom Tomato Varieties
Phillip L. Tocco
Extension Educator, Michigan State University Extension-Jackson County
et al.(2005). Ferriera outlines five classifications that
include damage from preharvest and at harvest sources
Abstract that donot specifically apply to the scope of this study.
There is continuing interest in sales of heirloom tomato For the purposes of this study, the three classes that
varieties at farmers markets. As growers are increasingly will be utilized will be (1) without physical damage; (2)
traveling greater distances to these markets, assessment light external surface physical damage; (3) serious
of relative shipping characteristics may be important to external physical damage.
variety selection for the growers. The PI assessed the Assessments of all tomatoes were made both
Black from Tula Carbon
relative handling of 10 heirloom tomato varieties. Each before and after treatment application. Each
variety was placed in a single layer in cardboard tomato replication’s pre-assessment was subtracted from the
boxes then transported 200 miles over a multiple variety total post-assessment to arrive at a shipping score for
of road surfaces. After treatments were applied and each replication.
holding both the treatment and control overnight, each Data collected was subjected to a factorial ANOVA to
tomato was assessed as to its physical damage. Significant determine variance of cultivar and transport effects.
postharvest losses were variety dependent, despite there
being no effect on the varieties due to the treatment.
Varieties with the least postharvest losses included Jaune
Rutgers Goliath
Chocolate Stripe
Results & Discussion
Flamme`, Stupice, and Chocolate Stripe. Those with the
most postharvest losses were Anna Russian, Purple Analysis at the 10% significance level showed
Calabash and Cherokee Purple. The findings suggest significant differences among varieties whether they
certain heirloom varieties may be better suited for farmers stayed at the packhouse (p=0.068) or traveled the 200
market sales over others. miles (p=0.084) but no difference between treatments
(p=0.11).
Jaune Flamme` Purple Calabash Stupice The mean score and mean separations for each
Introduction variety are listed in the table. These means represent
the mean of varieties irrespective of treatment. It must
Currently, no information exists examining the relative be remembered that both the storability and shipping
differences in shipping capacity of various heirloom cultivars. capabilities are represented in these separations. From
This information is a key first step to selecting heirloom a statistical standpoint, this muddies the water a bit.
varieties to plant and sell at farmer’s markets. From the standpoint of variety selection, both factors
Sargent et al. (1992) speaks to the fact that cultivar is are critical considerations, thus why they are being
one of several factors that affect incidence and severity of presented.
postharvest damages. Therefore, all other things being Anna Russian Cherokee Purple
equal, different cultivars should exhibit differing levels of
postharvest injury when subjected to similar conditions. Acknowledgements
Variety Mean Score Mean Separation The author wishes to thank Ray Miller of Miller Big
Methods Stupice 0.83 A Red Orchards for supplying tomatoes. This study was
made possible through funding from GREEEN and
Ten varieties of heirloom tomatoes grown in Romeo, Chocolate Stripe 0.83 A
administrative support from the Food System Economic
Michigan were used for this study. The varieties represented Jaune Flamme 0.83 A Partnership (FSEP)
are listed and pictured at right. Tomatoes deemed marketable
after harvest were used for the postharvest transport study. Rutgers 1 A
Six replications of ten tomatoes for each variety were placed
in cardboard boxes in a single layer calyx (stem) end down.
Goliath 1.5 A Literature Cited
Three replications remained on farm as a control group. Carbon 1.67 A Ferreira, M.D., A.T.O. Franco, R.F. Kasper, A.C.O. Ferraz,
Three replications were stacked in the bed of a pickup truck S.L. Honorio, M. Tavares, Post-harvest quality of fresh-
such that the bottoms of the boxes did not touch tomatoes
Black from Tula 2 AB marketed tomatoes as a function of harvest periods.
underneath them. The treatment group was transported by Anna Russian 2 AB Scientia Agricola (Piracicaba, Braz.), v.62,n.5, p. 446-451,
pickup truck 200.9 miles on highway roads (141 miles) as well Sept./Oct. 2005
as surface streets (56 miles) and dirt roads (3 miles). Both Purple Calabash 2.3 AB
groups were kept in unrefrigerated conditions and held Cherokee Purple 3.5 B Sargent, SA, JK Brecht, JJ Zoellner, Sensitivity of
overnight prior to physical damage assessment. tomatoes at mature-green and breaker ripeness stages
Each tomato was assessed as to its physical damage based to internal bruising, Journal of the American Society for
on damage classifications as utilized in Ferriera Horticultural Science, v. 117, p. 119-123, 1992