Kellogg's Breakfast Tomatoes
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Kellogg’s Breakfast tomatoes vary in size and appearance, depending on growing conditions, but are generally large, averaging 425 to 907 grams in weight. The variety has an oblate, slightly flattened shape with broad, curved edges. Kellogg’s Breakfast tomatoes have thin, smooth, taut, and glossy skin, showcasing brilliant shades of golden yellow and orange. Each tomato has a dark green cap that slightly compresses the fruit’s top with long, thin, and lanceolate-shaped forest green leaves. This slight compression creates distinct ridges and lines extending from the top of the tomato when the fruit is grown to large sizes. Kellogg’s Breakfast tomatoes often bear distinct scarring, cracks, and raised striations across the skin, varying with the cultivation region. Some fruits will have a lot of scarring, while others will have none. Underneath the surface, the yellow-orange flesh is dense, aqueous, thick, and succulent, with a tender, meaty, full-bodied mouthfeel. Several small chambers in the flesh also encase a few seeds enveloped in a gelatinous, slippery liquid. Kellogg’s Breakfast tomatoes are edible raw and have a rich, sweet, tangy, and savory flavor. Some growers also note a slight saltiness.
Seasons/Availability
Kellogg’s Breakfast tomatoes are available in the summer through the fall.
Current Facts
Kellogg’s Breakfast tomatoes, botanically classified as Solanum lycopersicum, are an American heirloom variety belonging to the Solanaceae or nightshade family. The mid to late season cultivar is a type of beefsteak tomato favored for its large size, dense flesh, and sweet flavor. Kellogg’s Breakfast tomatoes are an open-pollinated, indeterminate variety producing climbing vines that can reach up to three meters in length. The variety requires an additional support structure to prevent the vines from sagging under the weight of the heavy tomatoes, and the fruits are typically harvested 80 to 90 days after transplanting. Kellogg’s Breakfast tomatoes are a resilient, prolific variety that continues to produce fruits until the first frost. The orange tomatoes are primarily known as a slicing type and are versatile for raw and cooked, sweet or savory culinary preparations.
Nutritional Value
Kellogg’s Breakfast tomatoes have not been studied for their nutritional properties. Orange and yellow tomato varieties, in general, are sources of vitamins A, B, and C to strengthen the immune system, maintain healthy organs, and contribute to energy production. Tomatoes also provide fiber to aid digestion and minerals like copper, potassium, manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, and calcium. These minerals help the body build red blood cells, balance fluid levels, support bone and teeth health, and control daily nerve functions. Beyond vitamins and minerals, tomatoes contain lycopene, which is a naturally occurring carotenoid that gives the fruit its coloring and has antioxidant properties to protect overall bodily health.
Applications
Kellogg’s Breakfast tomatoes have a sweet and tangy flavor suited for fresh and cooked preparations. The variety is prized as a slicing tomato and holds its shape when cut. Kellogg’s Breakfast tomatoes are popularly layered in thick cuts on burgers and sandwiches or thinly sliced and pressed into grilled paninis. Slices of the variety are also sprinkled with salt and pepper and drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar as a simple snack. Try chopping Kellogg’s Breakfast tomatoes for bruschetta or using them fresh over dishes like tacos. The variety can also be incorporated into caprese, diced into chilled salads, tabouli, or salsa. In addition to slicing, Kellogg’s Breakfast tomatoes are blended into juices and cocktails, or simmered into jams and preserves. The thick, fleshy nature of the tomato allows it to be hollowed and stuffed, and it can be baked or roasted to concentrate its flavor. Kellogg’s Breakfast tomatoes are also cooked into pasta sauces or simmered in soups, stews, and curries. The variety can be canned or dried for extended use. Kellogg’s Breakfast tomatoes pair well with herbs like cilantro, basil, oregano, and thyme, meats including turkey, poultry, beef, and pork, and aromatics including garlic, onions, and ginger. Whole, unopened Kellogg’s Breakfast tomatoes will keep for a few days when stored at room temperature away from direct sunlight.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Kellogg’s Breakfast tomatoes acquired their peculiar name after grower Darrell Kellogg. Despite the same last name, Darrell Kellogg is not related to William Keith Kellogg, the man responsible for creating the Kellogg Company and nicknamed the Cereal King of America. Both Darrell Kellogg and William Keith Kellogg grew up in Michigan, but Darrell Kellogg was a railroad supervisor who had a passion for growing heirloom tomatoes in his home garden. When Darrell obtained seeds of an heirloom tomato from his friend in West Virginia, he decided to continue growing the variety and named it after his surname. It is unknown why the variety includes “breakfast” in its name. The most prevalent theory is that the tomato’s vibrant orange coloring is said to resemble orange juice, a beloved breakfast drink. This theory has not been factually proven, but is interwoven into the folklore surrounding the variety.
Geography/History
Kellogg’s Breakfast tomatoes are native to the United States and are rumored to have initially arisen from a garden in West Virginia. Tomato grower Darrell Kellogg, based in Redford, Michigan, acquired seeds of an unknown variety from a friend in West Virginia and planted them in his home garden. Darrell Kellogg enjoyed the flavor and coloring of the variety and began saving seeds to produce new crops each year. Darell Kellogg named the variety Kellogg’s Breakfast and eventually sent seeds for the variety to Bill Minkey of Darien, Wisconsin. Bill Minkey gave the seeds to the Seed Savers Exchange in 1993, where the variety was promoted through their platform and shared among growers throughout the United States. In the mid-21st century, Kellogg’s Breakfast tomatoes increased in notoriety as a popular heirloom cultivar after winning several taste awards and festival competitions, including reviews done by Sunset Magazine and awards given at TomatoFest. Today, Kellogg’s Breakfast tomatoes are an heirloom variety sold through specialty farms and wholesalers. The variety is challenging to find and is primarily sourced from select growers or found in home gardens within the United States.
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