What Are Heirloom Tomatoes, Anyway?

"The term heirloom isn't regulated, though. A savvy marketer can use that word to sell any fruit or vegetable, regardless of whether its seeds were around during"

Heirloom tomatoes are varieties grown from seeds saved and passed down between farmers for at least 50 years. They are selected by communities for traits such as color, the way the tomato tastes, and other preferred characteristics. The tomatoes are not antiques; the “heirloom” label refers to seed lineage that predates industrial hybridization. In the 20th century, many growers crossed varieties to produce hybrids with uniform appearance, stronger disease resistance, and better ability to survive long-distance shipping, while taste received less emphasis. Heirloom tomatoes are grown for flavor using open-pollination by insects and wind rather than breeder-driven manipulation. The term is not regulated, so marketing can apply it broadly.

Read at Bon Appetit