Beekist: Frequently Asked Questions Are tomatoes a fruit or a vegetable?
Tomatoes are really a fruit, which are related to the chilli, capsicum, potato, and eggplant families, all of which claim to have originated from South America Where are Beekist tomatoes grown?
Beekist tomatoes are grown throughout the North Island of New Zealand in both state-of-the-art glasshouses or for speciality lines, in state-of-the-art greenhouses. These houses protect crops from adverse weather conditions and enable all year round supply How are Beekist tomatoes grown?
Beekist tomatoes are grown either Hydroponically in Rock Wool (organic rock substance) or Coco Fibre (coconut tree fibre) Are Beekist tomatoes genetically engineered?
There are absolutely no genetically engineered tomatoes in the Beekist range How are Beekist tomatoes pollinated?
Environmentally friendly bumblebees pollinate the tomato blossoms - hence the name Beekist Why Bumblebees and not Honey Bees?
Tomato flowers do not have nectar, which is essential for honey production. Bumblebees are happy to roam without nectar as they dont produce honey. As a matter of interest the vibration rate of a bumblebees wings is equivalent to the speed of an electric shaver Are poisonous sprays used on Beekist tomatoes?
To protect consumers, growers and the bumble bees, all harmful sprays are avoided. Beekist uses a programme called IPM (Integrated Pest Management), which includes good bugs being introduced into the glasshouses to control the bad bugs. When does quality control start for Beekist tomatoes?
Beekist tomatoes are quality controlled from seed through planting and onto becoming vine-ripened for peak flavour: redder in the winter and firmer in the summer Are Beekist tomatoes hand-picked or machine picked?
Beekist tomatoes are carefully hand-picked with gloves on, then washed, dried and carefully packed to maximise shelf-life and minimise waste. How do Beekist tomtoes ripen?
Beekist tomatoes ripen on the vine from the inside out and gain in nutrients and flavour as they mature and turn red. How should I store my Beekist tomatoes?
Always store your Beekist tomatoes in a bowl out of direct sunlight. Please do not store them in the refrigerator as they will loose their nutrients, flavour and longevity How long to Beekist tomatoes keep?
If you keep your Beekists tomatoes out of the fridge, they will stay firm for a long time after they have reached peak redness and will continue to improve in flavour and nutrients
