Mountain Merit is a determinate, large, red, slicing tomato from Bejo Seeds. This hybrid variety is a former All-American Selections winner for its “complete package of disease resistance, productivity, and flavor” (Territorial Seed). The disease resistance package reportedly includes strong resistance to Fusarium races 1-3, tomato spotted wilt virus, late blight, and Verticillium, with intermediate resistance to early blight and nematodes.

Mountain Merit has lived up to its reputation for disease resistance, consistently scoring 1s and 0s throughout. The plants are beautiful: vigorous and productive with lots of leaf cover. We were excited about Mountain Merit early on, but when fruit started to form we were less impressed. I have never seen a hybrid produce such inconsistent and funny shaped fruit – with elongated, pointy blossom-ends. They looked like spinning tops! Unfortunately, we don’t see it being liked by consumers.

Not much data has been collected on the sensory evaluations (yet!) of Mountain Merit. I tried one during first harvest, and wrote “not interested in eating again.” I will, of course, but let’s hope it leaves a better impression.

First Ripe Fruit:

All harvest data represents two Mountain Merit plants from each block, or six plants total:

Harvest 1 (August 29, 2017)

Picking Ease (5=easy, 1=difficult): 3

Marketable Fruit: 16 fruit weighing 3354g (7.39 lb.) Unmarketable Fruit: 4 fruit weighing 234g (8.25 oz.)

Reasons why unmarketable: too small

Harvest 2 (September 5, 2017)

Picking Ease (5=easy, 1=difficult): 3

Marketable Fruit: 16 fruit weighing 3193g (7.04 lb.) Unmarketable Fruit: 6 fruit weighing 928g (2.05 lb.)

Reasons why unmarketable: scabbing, zippers, shape (pointed or top-like)

Average Fruit Size: 8.18 cm x 7.3 cm      (3.22″ x 2.87″)

Brix: 8.1, 5.9, 6.4

Harvest 3 (September 12, 2017)

Picking Ease (5=easy, 1=difficult): 2

Marketable Fruit: 18 fruit weighing 3721g (8.2 lb.) Unmarketable Fruit: 5 fruit weighing 879g (1.94 lb.)

Reasons why unmarketable: cracking, too small

Harvest 4 (September 19, 2017)

Picking Ease (5=easy, 1=difficult): 3

Marketable Fruit: 14 fruit weighing 3423g (7.55 lb.)   Unmarketable Fruit: 7 fruit weighing 640g (1.41 lb.)

Reasons why unmarketable: scabbing, rot, too small

Harvest 5 (September 26, 2017)

Picking Ease (5=easy, 1=difficult): 4

Marketable Fruit: 24 fruit weighing 5395g (11.89 lb.)   Unmarketable Fruit: 8 fruit weighing 949g (2.09 lb.)

Reasons why unmarketable: shape (too pointy), too small