This striking red oxheart tomato has been grown and preserved for over thirty-five years by an Italian-American family in the Downriver area south of Detroit, Michigan. The original seed was brought from Bari, Italy in the early 1990s upon returning from visiting family. The gentleman (who wishes to remain anonymous) has since grown only this variety—and remarkably, has always direct-sown the seed straight into the garden with consistent success.
 
Passed to me around 2021 by a close friend who is related to the gentleman, this tomato is now known simply as “Carone Oxheart.” After three decades of careful selection in complete isolation, it has become a distinct strain perfectly adapted to Michigan’s climate.
 
The true Italian name is lost to time, but the tomato’s exceptional qualities speak for themselves.
 
Large, brilliant deep-red oxheart fruits average 1 lb (some larger, some smaller), with broad, slightly lobed shoulders often tapering to a pointed blossom end and sometimes not. The flesh is extraordinarily thick and meaty, with tiny seed cavities containing very few seeds. Dense, almost steak-like texture, minimal juice, and intense, sweet, full-bodied flavor make it outstanding for fresh eating, roasting, canning, and especially thick sauces and pastes.
 
A living family heirloom, preserved through direct sowing and unwavering devotion for more than a generation.