Tomato Basics

The best of the season’s tomatoes, grown locally in your own area, are usually available only for a few weeks in late summer. With a little planning, you may freeze or can some thick, fresh tomato sauce made from these ripe beauties to enjoy fresh tomato flavor throughout the autumn and winter. As a winter alternative, canned imported plum tomatoes and some domestic brands (do your own taste comparisons) are usually a better choice than anything fresh; except, very often, you may be able to find decent fresh plum tomatoes year-round, especially if you happen to live close to an Italian neighborhood.