The Oroma tomato is a paste variety developed in the United States by Oregon State University and released in 1993. Bred specifically for processing, it is an open-pollinated, determinate tomato that produces elongated, Roma-style red fruits with a firm, meaty texture and very few seeds. These qualities make Oroma especially well suited for sauces, paste, and canning, as the fruits are easy to peel, hold their shape well, and have good keeping qualities. While primarily valued for processing, Oroma can also be used for fresh eating, particularly in the Pacific Northwest where it performs reliably.

The 'Petit Marseillais' is a sweet, heirloom pepper from Provence, France, known for its productivity, early ripening, and distinctive, crinkled orange fruit. It has thin, aromatic flesh and a sweet flavor that some describe as having a citrusy note with a mild warmth that doesn't become spicy. The plants are compact, grow well in containers, and are excellent for fresh eating, stuffing, drying, freezing, or making paprika.  

Aji White peppers, often variations of Aji Fantasy or Aji White Lightning, are mild-to-medium heat chilies with a sweet, fruity, and sometimes citrusy flavor. They are known for their distinctive creamy white or ivory color and unique, bell-like or lantern shape. These peppers are popular for their culinary versatility in dishes like salads, sauces, and salsas, and for their ornamental appeal.  

Flavor: Sweet, fruity, and tangy, often with bright citrus notes. 

Heat: Mild to moderate, ranging from approximately 1,000 to 30,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), depending on the specific variety. The heat is often considered mild enough for those who don't prefer extreme spiciness. 

Appearance

Color: Creamy white or ivory when ripe, sometimes with a slight yellow tint.

Shape: Distinctive, pendulous shape often described as bell-like or lantern-like.

Size: Typically small to medium-sized, around 1–2 inches long. 

Growing and usage

Growth: Plants are generally vigorous, productive, and suitable for containers. 

Culinary Uses: They are versatile and can be eaten raw in salads, used in salsas and hot sauces, pickled, or fried. 

Ornamental Value: Their beautiful color and unique shape make them a popular choice for ornamental gardens as well as for eating. 

Indeterminate. 

Pantano Romanesco is an Italian heirloom tomato variety known for its large, flattened, and ribbed red fruits with a unique green crown when ripe. It is an indeterminate, beefsteak-type tomato with a rich, complex flavor, making it excellent for slicing, sauces, and salads. The plants are productive, with a medium-season maturity of about 75 days, and require sturdy support.  

Flavor: Excellent, rich, and complex taste. 

Uses: Highly versatile, ideal for fresh slicing in salads, sandwiches, and canning or cooking into sauces. 

Jalapeno Traveler

he sturdy and vigorous 3’ tall plants produce a continuous crop all season. The fruits are conical 3-1/2- 4” long with thick bright green flesh and grow well at both high and low elevations.  A great, reliable variety that produces large peppers with consistent medium heat.

They taste best when allowed to fully ripen to red but are great green as well. Chop up and add to salsas or eat one alongside your sandwich. Capsicum annuum (80 days) 

Heat Level: Medium to Hot. Scoville 2,500 - 8,000 Organic, open-pollinated, heirloom.     

Sorrento tomatoes are a type of large, ribbed, pinkish-red tomato from the Sorrento region of Italy, prized for their sweet, delicate flavor and meaty, firm flesh. This heirloom variety is a "bull's heart" type, meaning it has very few seeds and little water, making it ideal for eating fresh in salads like a Caprese, or for other culinary uses where a high-quality tomato flavor is desired. 

Appearance: Large, round, and ribbed with a skin that is light red tending towards pink, often with green hues at harvest. The flesh is firm and meaty.

Flavor: Sweet and delicate.

Seed count: Very few seeds.

Origin: The Sorrentine Peninsula in the province of Naples, Italy. 

Culinary uses

Fresh consumption: Their sweet and delicate flavor makes them excellent for fresh salads, such as a classic Caprese salad.

Other uses: Their high quality and flavor make them versatile for various culinary uses. 

The Count Dracula pepper is a variety of Capsicum annuum, a type of ornamental pepper known for its dark foliage and fruit that ripens from black to blood-red. It is a medium-hot pepper with a Scoville rating ranging from about 5,000 to 30,000 units, depending on the source. 

Species: Capsicum annuum

Appearance: Features dark, almost black, foliage, stems, and purple flowers. The small, conical fruits are initially black and mature to a blood-red color.

Heat level: The heat can vary, but it is generally considered a medium-hot pepper, with ratings ranging from 5,000 to 30,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). This is hotter than a jalapeño, with some sources comparing it to a cayenne pepper.

Culinary use: It is edible and can be used in salsas and sauces, although its primary appeal is often its ornamental value.

Growing habits: It is a compact plant that grows well in containers and is suitable for home gardens. 

This must-have variety is a heavy and consistent producer all season long, perfect for any vegetable garden. Its plum-shaped, 5cm fruit are a uniquely beautiful, deep mahogany with subtle dusky-green shoulders. They offer a great sweet and tangy flavor, making them ideal for eating fresh or cooking in your favorite dishes.

Appearance: Plum-shaped, mahogany-red fruit with dusky-green shoulders 

Flavor: Sweet and tangy with a complex flavor, best when cooked or dried 

Growth: Indeterminate vines that are productive and can grow well even in cooler temperatures 

Uses: Ideal for making rich, dark-colored sauces, salads, and for snacking 

Pimenta da Cachorro or Dog Pepper is a rare and distinctive chili variety from Brazil. It’s valued both for its unique appearance and its complex flavor. Here’s a detailed description:

🌶 Origin: Brazil — particularly in regions where heirloom peppers are grown for local culinary use.

🌿 Plant:

Compact, bushy plants about 2–3 feet (60–90 cm) tall.

Dense foliage with good fruit production.

Performs well in warm, humid tropical or subtropical climates.

🍎 Pods:

Small to medium-sized, often around 2–4 cm long.

Shape varies from rounded to slightly elongated or wrinkled, sometimes resembling a tiny habanero.

Colors mature from green to bright red, orange, or sometimes a golden hue depending on strain.

Thin walls with juicy flesh.

🔥 Heat Level:

Mild to medium (estimated 10,000–30,000 Scoville Heat Units).

Typically less hot than a habanero, but hotter than a jalapeño.

Delivers a pleasant, warming heat that doesn’t linger excessively.

👅 Flavor Profile:

Fruity, slightly floral, with tropical and citrus notes.

Balanced sweetness and tang, making it excellent for seasoning sauces, seafood, and meats.

🍽 Culinary Uses:

Commonly used in Brazilian cooking for marinades, hot sauces, and pickling.

Great for fresh salsas, vinegar infusions, or flavoring oil.