Heirloom carried through the Underground Railroad by an unnamed black man as he crossed to freedom in Ripley, Ohio, from Kentucky. Ripley is home to Rankin House, a well-known stop on the Underground Railroad and now a museum. He grew these tomatoes there, and later shared seeds with a woman named Lou, who later shared seeds with her great nephew Francis Parker. Sixty years later Francis, who lives in Sardinia, Ohio, shared seeds with Wilfred Ellis, owner of Ellis’ Feed Mill. Francis died in 2010 but approved the addition of Underground Railroad to the name. Wilfred shared them with Susan Barber and Gary Millwood, Kentucky. Seeds were first offered in the Seed Savers 2010 Yearbook by Maria Stenger, Kentucky, who received seeds from Gary Millwood. Indeterminate, regular leaf plants produce 4-12 oz., dark pink, tangy and juicy tomatoes. Sparse foliage.

Culinary Use

Salad / Slicer

Flavor Profile

Sweet / Well-balanced

Flesh Color

Pink

Fruit Color

Pink

Fruit Shape

Oblate / Ribbed

Fruit Size

Medium

Leaf Type

Regular

Maturity

Mid-season

Plant Type

Indeterminate

Species

Solanum lycopersicum

Variety

Heirloom / Open Pollinated