Some of Long Island's tastiest tomatoes are ready

NEW YORK (FOX5NY.COM) - The tomato DRC-564 is one of the latest varieties on the vine at Wickham's Fruit Farm in Cutchogue, Long Island. It is so new that the breeder hasn't even come up with an official name.

"You normally see them packaged on the vine so all tomatoes are on ripe at the same time—really nice size cherry tomatoes that are bright red," said Laurie McBride the farm stand manager at Wickham's.

She said that the season, although off to a late and cold start, is picking up speed. Plants draped in tomatoes of all different colors and sizes are starting to ripen inside the greenhouse.

Owner Tom Wickham said Wickham's is one of the only farms on the East End picking tomatoes this early in the year.

"We have yellow tomatoes," Wickham said. "We have a pink tomato with seeds came originally from Japan."

The field tomatoes will be ripe in August. Wickham's is trying out a cherry tomato mix with 15 different varieties to please consumers' picky palates.

"If you only do the same thing year after year, sooner or later other people will catch up with you," Wickham said. "You need to be a little bit ahead or innovating, trying some new things."

Other new cherry tomato varieties are the Sequoia and favorita. Arguably, a tomato is just a tomato for some people. But for those who know the difference can really appreciate the flavor.

"These are so rich and vibrant," one customer said. "You can just bite into them like apples."

"It's not sweet and it's not sour, and the meat can't be too mealy," another said. "It kind of melts in your mouth."