Look beyond the label
A good farm shop tomato product should have a reason to exist. Maybe it uses ripe tomatoes well. Maybe the chutney has proper acidity. Maybe the ketchup tastes more tomato-led than the supermarket version. The label matters, but the flavour matters more.
What to look for
- Fresh tomatoes with aroma, colour and natural variation.
- Sauces where tomato is the main flavour, not just background sweetness.
- Chutneys with balance: fruit, vinegar, sugar and spice working together.
- Clear ingredient lists and sensible use ideas.
- Seasonal products that make use of ripe or surplus fruit.