STEM TOMATO

~10 lbs Stem Tomato aka "Tomatoes on the Vine", "Cluster Tomato", "You-Bing-Fan-Qie", "Dai-Jing-Fan-Qie", "有柄蕃茄", "带茎番茄", "帶莖番茄" Stem tomatoes are large round tomatoes with the vine still attached. Stem tomatoes are generally four to five tomatoes in a cluster. They are meaty with small seeds. Stem tomatoes taste sweet and juicy. They are usually used for slicing and salads. Stem tomato is available year-round. Handling Tip Selection Stem tomato is firm with a uniform red, shiny skin. Depending on the time of usage, you can choose a lighter shade of red which indicated a less ripe stem tomato. No signs of shriveling, tear skin, or blemishes. The stem is bright green and moist. Storage Unripe stem tomato should be stored at 66°F - 70°F (19°C - 21°C) with a relative humidity of ninety to ninety-five percent and no mist. The ripe stem tomato should be stored at 45°F (7°C) with the same relative humidity. The typical shelf life for unripe stem tomatoes is three to four weeks and seven to ten days for red tomatoes. Store stem tomatoes stem-end up to help preserve the quality. Stem tomato is sensitive to ethylene, a naturally occurring gas that regulates ripening. Stem tomatoes should not be stored with high ethylene-producing products to extend shelf life. Stem tomato produces a moderate amount of ethylene. Stem tomato is sensitive to chilling injury at storage below 55°F (13°C). Symptoms include pitting, ununiformed ripening, loss of flavor, and storage decay. As stem tomato ripens, it becomes less sensitive to chilling injury.