The Farmer's Daughter USA

Hi, I'm Amanda! My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm also a practicing attorney.

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Work with Me
    • Speaking
    • Giveaways
    • Social Media Consulting
    • Sponsored and Guest Posts
  • Gift Shop
    • Cart
    • Checkout
  • About Me
    • Media
    • Terms of Use

These Purple Tomatoes are a BE Superfood

November 7, 2022

Photo courtesy of Norfolk Plant Sciences

My favorite new crops are those genetically modified to include consumer-oriented benefits! Norfolk Plant Sciences’ purple tomatoes fit the bill. With a couple swaps of genetic material, these purple tomatoes turn a deep purple when ripe. Why? Because they’re loaded with good-for-you antioxidants and anthocyanins.

The Purple Good Stuff

Scientists created these purple tomatoes by inserting two genes from snapdragons into domesticated varieties of tomatoes. Tomatoes already have the biological capability to make antioxidants, though it’s usually limited to the plant’s stems. The snapdragon genes inserted by into the purple tomatoes activate the process of producing antioxidants for the fruit itself (sounds very similar to Artic Apples, which were engineered to turn off the browning mechanism). The tomato varieties chosen for modification include those with good production, yield, and flavor. The result is a tomato with dark-purple flesh and meat.

If you don’t know, antioxidants are substances that scientists believe protect our cells against free radicals, which may play a role in heart disease, cancer, and other diseases. Anthocyanins are water-soluble pigments associated with similar health benefits.

The Other Purple Tomatoes

Although this is the first GMO purple tomato, it isn’t the first purple tomato on the market. Other varieties were created through traditional breeding methods. But the end product doesn’t have nearly as many antioxidants and anthocyanins as Norfolk’s purple tomato.

While we’re on the subject of breeding tomatoes for special properties, it’s worth noting yellow tomatoes as well. Growers bred those tomatoes to have a lower acid content. As a result, they have golden yellow flesh and meat, as opposed to red. So breeding tomatoes for special characteristics isn’t uncommon at all!

Photo courtesy of Norfolk Plant Sciences

The Regulatory Framework

These purple tomatoes recently received regulatory clearance from the USDA. Under the Plant Protection Act of 2000, the USDA has authority to oversee plant pests and prevent their spread to protect agriculture, the environment, and the economy. Companies can ask the agency’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to analyze whether a new crop is subject to regulations under the Act. APHIS considers whether the altered crop poses an increased plant-pest risk compared to the plant-pest risk posed by a comparable crop. APHIS concluded that Norfolk’s modified tomato didn’t have any plausible pathway by which it would pose an increased plant-pest risk as compared to a non-GMO tomato.

Photo courtesy of Norfolk Plant Sciences

But GMOs!

I love that Norfolk Plant Sciences doesn’t shy away from the GMO label. The company is located in the UK, but even that doesn’t give them jitters about it. As it says on the company’s website, whether you eat them or not is your own choice. But Norfolk Plant Sciences is excited by the product and wants to share its health benefits with those interested.

Norfolk Healthy Produce, the U.S.-based subsidiary, plans on making the tomatoes commercially available by 2023. Nathan Pumplin, president of NHP, explained that the U.S.’s new regulation of bioengineered foods allows the company to bring them to market much more quickly and affordably. That means these purple tomatoes can provide Americans with health benefits sooner!

Personally, I can’t wait! Purple is my favorite color, and tomatoes my favorite vegetable. They’re so pretty and would look lovely on a fresh salad!

signature
Share this:
«
»

Filed Under: Biotechnology Tagged With: biotechnology, federal government, GMO, gmos, health, science, USDA

Comments

  1. Pam says

    November 7, 2022 at 10:51 am

    I can hardly wait! GMO that I’m aware of has mostly been used to make crops easier to grow. More nutritious in an important way is very attractive to me. I wonder how they will market the seeds.

  2. Valerie says

    November 7, 2022 at 9:29 pm

    When do you think will we be able to buy them? I would love to grow some, or at least try one.

  3. Robert Hale says

    November 19, 2022 at 5:03 pm

    I’m very much in favour or GM, but purple tomatoes may not be the answer if the more important level of Lycopene is reduced in the fruit. Although I despair of the anti Science stance of the EU, they did recognize the importance of Lycopene and established a project for it. It is very much produced in the fruit and its level tends to be indicated by the level of Redness, which is why “long life” types that never properly ripen have considerably lower level.

Hi, I'm Amanda. My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm an attorney and I'm passionate about agriculture!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Subscribe via Email

Archives

Latest on Twitter

4 days ago
Farmers Daughter's Twitter avatar
Farmers Daughter
@farmdaughterusa

Soy & Greenhouse Gas Emissions t.co/RnCHY7Ucwf

  • Reply
  • Retweet 0
  • Like 0
January 26, 2023
Farmers Daughter's Twitter avatar
Farmers Daughter
@farmdaughterusa

Must. Watch. t.co/9AGqt7OsOh

  • Reply
  • Retweet 2
  • Like 9
January 23, 2023
Farmers Daughter's Twitter avatar
Farmers Daughter
@farmdaughterusa

Chicken Little? Egg Prices Say Not-So-Fast t.co/nUlhjIDdvf

  • Reply
  • Retweet 0
  • Like 0

Latest on Facebook

The Farmer's Daughter

2 days ago

The Farmer's Daughter

Don't let anyone tell you that modern agriculture and a healthy ecosystem can't coexist. My latest for AGDAILY

... See MoreSee Less

Farm and butterflies can coexist. Research shows it's not a crazy idea | AGDAILY

www.agdaily.com

Finding ways for modern agriculture and monarch butterflies to coexist may keep these threatened insets off the Endangered Species List.

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

4 days ago

The Farmer's Daughter

As I've said before, agriculture is a leader in real sustainability. By the way, one hectare is about 2.5 acres.

... See MoreSee Less


Photo

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter
shared a video from the playlist Science.

1 week ago

The Farmer's Daughter

How to Feed a Nation

... See MoreSee Less


Video

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

1 week ago

The Farmer's Daughter

I love agriculture + technology. ☕️

... See MoreSee Less

Can Science Finally Create a Decent Cup of Decaf?

slate.com

Coffee is a moody fellow.

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

2 weeks ago

The Farmer's Daughter

These mass tort cases--and the lawyers who bring them---are an absolute nightmare. While they once focused on pharmaceutical companies, they now have agriculture in their sights. And millions of consumers see advertisements about how dangerous crop-protection tools are, leading them to believe it's accurate.

... See MoreSee Less

Opinion: Trial lawyers target agriculture products in 'Judicial Hellholes'

www.agri-pulse.com

In this opinion piece, Tiger Joyce with the American Tort Reform Association discusses trial lawyers' focus on agriculture products.

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

Latest on Instagram

thefarmersdaughterusa

I'm Amanda. My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm an attorney by day, and "agvocate" at night.

Amanda Zaluckyj
Rent? What's a job? 🤔 #Mischa #labsofinstagram Rent? What's a job? 🤔

#Mischa #labsofinstagram #labs #dogs #dog #dogsofinstagram #puppyproblems #therentistoodamnhigh
As I've said before, agriculture is a leader in re As I've said before, agriculture is a leader in real sustainability. By the way, one hectare is about 2.5 acres. #farming #sustainableag #agriculture #sustainableagriculture #farmers #sustainableagriculturepractices #sustainable #agriculturelife #agricultureeducation #farm #farmer #soy #soyproduction #tofu #gmosoybeans #gmosoy
Look at that face! #dogs #doggielove #dogsofinst Look at that face! 

#dogs #doggielove #dogsofinstagram #Mischa #doggielove
This is the worst part about January. #holidayblue This is the worst part about January. #holidayblues
Obviously. 💅 #dogs #poutface #Mischa #blacklab Obviously. 💅

#dogs #poutface #Mischa #blacklab #dogsofinstagram #pittiemix #puppyproblems #wfh
For reference, a hectare is about 2.5 acres. #farm For reference, a hectare is about 2.5 acres. #farming #sustainableag #agriculture #sustainableagriculture #farmers #sustainableagriculturepractices #sustainable #agriculturelife #agricultureeducation #farm #farmer #soy #soybeans #soyfarmers
It's 2023. Let's start the new year making sure ev It's 2023. Let's start the new year making sure everyone knows these basic farm facts.

#agriculture #usagriculture #farmers #usfarmers #farming #farmfamilies #sustainableag #sustainableagriculture #sustainable #sustainability #farmerscare #homegrown #localagriculture #knowyourfarmer #shoplocal #madeintheusa #madeintheus #americanagriculture
Why make a resolution you'll break before Wednesda Why make a resolution you'll break before Wednesday? Instead choose a resolution you can accomplish: support farmers! The easiest way to do that is by consuming our products and reminding people to do the same.

Brag about your success: https://www.bonfire.com/store/the-farmers-daughter-usa/

#NewyearGoals #NewYearNewMe #newyear2023
Happy New Year! I can't wait to see what this year Happy New Year! I can't wait to see what this year brings!
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Website Design By Jumping Jax Designs

Go to mobile version