Green Zebra Tomato

History

Green Zebra is one of the few "modern heirlooms"—a variety developed recently enough to have documented origins, yet open-pollinated and passed down through seed saving rather than corporate breeding programs. It was created in 1983 by Tom Wagner, a legendary tomato breeder from Everett, Washington, who spent decades developing unusual varieties at his Tater-Mater Seeds operation. Wagner crossed four different heirloom varieties to create Green Zebra, seeking a tomato that would remain green when ripe while delivering exceptional flavor. The result was revolutionary: a small, striking fruit with emerald green skin overlaid with chartreuse yellow stripes that intensify as the tomato ripens. Contrary to popular belief, Green Zebra was not featured in the 1991 film "Fried Green Tomatoes"—that movie used actual unripe green tomatoes. However, the coincidental timing of the film's release and Green Zebra's growing popularity certainly didn't hurt its fame. The variety gained cult status among chefs in the 1990s and 2000s, appearing on menus at Alice Waters' Chez Panisse and other pioneering farm-to-table restaurants. Today, Green Zebra remains unique in the tomato world: it offers gardeners the only reliable way to grow a green-when-ripe tomato with its distinctively tangy, almost citrus-like flavor profile.