(7 Jan 2018) LEADIN:
An Israeli company says it has developed possibly the world's tiniest cherry tomato.
The "drop tomato" is about the size of a blueberry and comes in both red and yellow colours with a sweeter flavour.
STORYLINE
They say bigger is better, but in the succulent world of cherry tomatoes one Israeli company is going smaller than ever before.
The "drop tomato" is about the size of a blueberry and the Kedma company in the country's southern Arava desert says it is the smallest one ever cultivated in Israel, perhaps even in the world.
It's a point of pride in a country known for its agricultural innovation, where fruits and vegetables are taken seriously and where several strands of the cherry tomato were first invented.
"It's very special, it's something else, that's why we thought it's a good idea to try and grow it here in the Arava valley, of course with support of the R and D (research and development) station of the Arava," says Ariel Kidron, a Kedma grower.
The seed, originally developed in Holland, was modified to match the arid growing conditions in southern Israel.
The Central and Northern Arava Research and Development center says it is definitely the smallest to ever be grown in Israel, possibly the world.
The tiny tomato, smaller than a one shekel Israeli coin, is offered in red and yellow varieties and will be presented to the public at a three-day international agricultural fair in Southern Israel later this month. Early indications are it could be a big hit.
Shaul Ben Aderet, a well-known Israeli chef who owns three restaurants including Tel Aviv's "Blue Rooster," got some early samples and says the new strand is packed with flavour and will spawn an infinite number of new recipes.
He offered it sizzled in a pan, baked into focaccia bread and as a straight-up snack.
"Regarding the size, it's simply great, the size, the packaging, we don't need to make any effort, we don't need to cut it, it's very simple, it's clean, it's nice, it's sexy, it's very sexy. If I would give people to taste a candy, another candy, and a tomato with their eyes closed, they would say the tomato is a candy, that's for sure, it's (the tomato) sweet and balanced with sweetness and sourness in a perfect way. The test we did, by roasting, and also by cooking and also in it's natural way, in the three cases it's great results, it behaves well by cooking, by baking and roasting, chefs will enjoy that for sure," he says.
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