UC Agriculture and Natural Resources has announced the addition of nine new tomato varieties to its Master Gardeners’ collection for 2025. The update is based on feedback from gardeners in Contra Costa County and recent information from growers.
The new varieties include several types suited for different growing needs. Among the cherry tomatoes, ‘Apricot Zebra’ stands out with tangerine-colored fruit and green striping that turns yellow at maturity. According to the organization, these plants are vigorous, disease-resistant, and productive. This variety will be available only in Walnut Creek and Antioch.
In the beefsteak and slicer categories, options such as ‘Caiman’, ‘Chef’s Choice Black’, ‘Dwarf Boronia’, ‘Dwarf Rosella Crimson’, ‘Dwarf Blazing Beauty’, ‘Dwarf Tasmanian Chocolate’, ‘Marmalade Skies’, and ‘RuBee Dawn’ have been introduced. These selections feature a range of colors, sizes, and plant structures, including compact dwarf varieties designed for small spaces or containers.
Feedback from testers was positive regarding performance, productivity, flavor, and disease resistance. One tester said about Caiman: “This plant was so impressive in its season-long health and productivity. Beautiful 10-12 oz. tomatoes with good flavor for fresh eating, even held up well for canning.” Another commented on Chef’s Choice Black: “Master Gardeners who tested this one raved about it. Our most talked about tomato last season!”
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) is affiliated with the University of California (https://ucanr.edu/). The organization operates offices in all 58 California counties along with nine Research and Extension Centers serving as living laboratories across diverse ecosystems (https://ucanr.edu/). UC ANR applies university expertise to support communities statewide through research initiatives and outreach programs (https://ucanr.edu/). It provides science-based practices aimed at enhancing lives and livelihoods throughout California (https://ucanr.edu/).
For more than a century, UC ANR has delivered resources in nutrition education, food networks, farming methods, environmental conservation, wildfire protection strategies, youth education programs and economic development efforts (https://ucanr.edu/). Glenda Humiston serves as vice president of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (https://ucanr.edu/).