Toe-MAY-toe, tah-MAH-toe. No matter how you pronounce it or slice it, Tomato Bliss is a Goodfinds by Gordon partner you should know about.
Based in Southwest Michigan, Tomato Bliss is a farming operation that stands for many positive qualities – diversity, sustainable, organic growing methods, and the preservation and cultivation of flavorful heirloom tomatoes.
Lotus Flower Farm, where Tomato Bliss products come to life, is a women-owned business. It was founded in 2016 by Marie Krane and Monique Hypes, who also serves as chief operating officer. From the start, the operation has focused on regenerative farming. No chemicals or weed-killers, just hybrid organic fertilizer to bring out the naturally succulent flavor of heirloom tomatoes.
“Thanks to years of no-till, no-dig, nutrients staying within the soil, cover crops keeping that soil in place during the winter … that translates into wonderful flavor in our tomatoes,” Hypes said. “That’s transparency to me – if you can taste the difference because you know the farming practices are above and beyond.”
Expanding its Heirloom Tomato Footprint
Since its start, Tomato Bliss has expanded both its mission and product sourcing. The company partners with regional farms stretching from the southwest corner of Michigan to near Traverse City. Each farm is dedicated to regenerative farming practices.
This agricultural practice is more than a throwback to the time before modern farming and chemistry gave us synthetic herbicides, fungicides and pesticides.
“It heals the soil and creates perfect conditions for growing and harvesting heirloom tomatoes with pure flavor and uncompromised nutritional benefits,” Krane said.
And she wants people to know that science has shown consuming a wide variety of heirloom tomatoes offers health benefits and disease prevention. This is thanks to phytonutrients found in colorful fruits and vegetables. Different varieties of heirloom tomatoes – red and blush, orange and yellow, green and purple – provide essential vitamins and health-boosters such as lycopene, beta carotene, iron, magnesium and more.
Perfect Fit: Tomato Bliss and Goodfinds
All of the positive attributes exhibited by Tomato Bliss made them a perfect fit for the Gordon Food Service program called Goodfinds by Gordon.
The program was inspired by the idea that it’s possible for food to taste good and do good. We scout, seek and discover unique brands, then partner with these innovative companies providing beneficial food solutions that help their communities, customers and the planet.
All companies in the Goodfinds by Gordon program are reviewed by our team of foodservice industry experts, chefs, brand consultants and more. They look for partners which excel in at least one of the following three pillars:
1. Purpose-Driven. These are companies that are rethinking processes and creating meaningful food solutions. Examples include using plant-based alternatives, considering new approaches to agriculture like growing crops indoors, saving land and water, and ensuring farmers around the world are stakeholders in the entire production process.
2. People-Focused. Our experts look to support companies that share community-first values, including supporting minority- and women-owned businesses, and family-owned farms that can thrive through fair-trade, fair wages, and more.
3. Planet-Forward. A commitment to sustainability and the planet’s well-being at the forefront of the food production process.
Heirloom Tomato Flavors Perfect for the Menu
Tomato Bliss hits the mark by using ethical farming practices, paying their farmers sustainable hourly wages, and using earth-friendly packaging solutions. It’s a combination that results in simply delicious heirloom tomato products.
Why heirlooms? The company notes that there are more than 5,000 types of heirloom tomatoes, most of which are at risk of extinction. They are beloved for their exceptional flavor and because they come from seeds handed down through the generations. The tomatoes most people are familiar with are hybrid commercial products that sacrifice robust flavor for characteristics like uniform size, shape or thick skin.
Heirloom tomatoes are always colorful, but often not uniform in size or shape. Even so, they add a spark to almost every recipe that calls for tomatoes. The company’s website has dozens of recipes featuring Tomato Bliss soups. It contains ideas on everything from starters to sharing plates to entrees and even beverages.
Gordon Food Service stocks several Tomato Bliss soup flavors shop them all now:
- Roasted Balsamic Heirloom Tomato Balsamic Soup (Item Code 422848)
- Moroccan Heirloom Tomato Soup (Item Codes 422674, 426982)
- Masala Heirloom Tomato Soup (Item Codes 422854, 426984)
- Tuscan Heirloom Tomato Soup (Item Code 426986)
The soups are made with tomatoes picked at their peak flavor, and each one is a time-saver. Whether you serve it as a soup or use it as a marinade, sauce or ingredient in a special dish, each product brings a difference in flavor and quality to the menu.
“Part of our mission when we were thinking about what product to make is, we thought, well, if we made a tomato soup and we put it in a glass jar, we can extend the shelf life of fresh produce,” Krane said.
Learn More About Tomato Bliss and Goodfinds
With their farming practices in place, a commitment to sustainability and the future of the planet, Tomato Bliss is building a story based on doing good. In today’s foodservice environment, the ability to tell a story about your food and promote transparency is something consumers desire.
“The unity among us is the driving force behind the company,” Krane said. “We are all shoulder to shoulder in this project, sharing our goals and our mission. That way, it’s bigger than any of us individually.”
To find out more about how Tomato Bliss and the Goodfinds by Gordon program can benefit your business, ask your Gordon Food Service Sales Representative about products and marketing ideas.
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