RAF TOMATO SALAD (CHARACTERISTICS)
RAF TOMATO SALAD (CHARACTERISTICS)
THE RAF TOMATO
IS A 100% ALMERIAN PRODUCT, ALTHOUGH, CURIOUSLY, ITS ORIGIN IS FRENCH. "RAF" MEANS "RESISTANT TO FUSARIUM," A TYPE OF FUNGUS THAT AFFECTS TOMATOES. IT BELONGS TO THE VARIETY CALLED "RIDGED" DUE TO ITS CHARACTERISTIC MORPHOLOGY. IT IS ALSO KNOWN AS "MARMANDE."
The Raf tomato, also known as the ribbed tomato or black-legged tomato, is a variety of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum, Solanaceae) obtained through artificial selection of traditional tomatoes grown outdoors since 1969. Its origin lies in the Almería plains. The Raf is a Marmande-type tomato that stands out for its flavor and texture.
It is a Spanish local variety of the Heirloom tomato. It is characterized by its kidney shape and its wide variety of colors and sizes. It is particularly susceptible to disease and has a short shelf life after harvesting. It is valued for its flavor.5
The name RAF refers to the acronym for Fusarium resistant. This resistance to Fusarium (Fusarium oxysporum lycopersici) was one of the reasons for its popularity in cultivation. The RAF is the product of a selection of traditional tomatoes, so it is not a hybrid tomato.26 Due to seed degradation, it is no longer being planted, and a very similar variety called "Delizia" is becoming very popular.
In Spain, the most important production areas for this type of tomato are the Cañada de San Urbano and the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, specifically the "Los Martínez" area, both in the province of Almería.²
• Its black neck and veining as it ripens make it a unique tomato.
• In the center of the tomato, the leaves close as it begins to ripen, unlike imitation varieties which open.
• The bottom of the tomato is pointed.
• Its flavor is sweeter.
CHARACTERISTICS
ITS MORPHOLOGY IS SPECIAL AND VERY DISTINCTIVE. It is an irregularly shaped fruit with deep grooves that converge in the center. Oval in shape and flattened at the ends, these grooves make it easily recognizable and attest to its quality. Its color is a deep green with almost blackish tinges at the top (neck).
Inside, the pulp is pinkish in color, with a very firm, juicy, and compact texture. It is fleshy and contains small seeds. It is consistent and generally has a delicious sweet flavor (9 degrees Brix) due to the balance between sugars and citric and malic acidity. Ripening occurs from the inside out.7
The tomato plant is a vigorous plant, but current production methods attempt to reduce this original vigor, resulting in it being classified as semi-determinate and of medium vigor. Its natural height can reach 4 meters, while in production it is rarely allowed to exceed 1.5 meters.
The reason the Raf tomato is so unique is due to its growing conditions. It needs water with a certain salinity so that the fruit can compensate by producing sugars. It has been cultivated for decades. Originally grown outdoors, it is now cultivated under plastic sheeting, either in rows or under netting.
Production is usually limited to about 500 hectares, and the yield per plant is typically around 4 or 5 kilos. The yield of a tomato plant of another variety ranges from 20 to 22 kilos of product on average.