Tasteless Tomatoes by Design

You've probably tasted a fresh, garden grown tomato at some point. And you've probably mentioned how tasteless the typical store-bought variety is more often than your friends want to hear. So you think store-bought tomatoes are tasteless? Well, according to research done at Cornell University and published in the journal Nature Genetics, you are right. But probably not for the reasons you think.

More than 90% of store-bought tomatoes lack a specific gene that is responsible for producing the chemicals that cause their distinctive taste. The tomatoes lost the gene as growers produced varieties selected for their size, color, shape, sturdiness and shelf life.

Your best bet for finding a tomato that still tastes like a tomato is with heirloom varieties.