American home gardeners now have access to a remarkable new tomato entry, which has the color of a concord grape with plum-colored flesh. Its appearance is so striking that it seems almost photoshopped. However, this tomato is very real.

Norfolk Plant Sciences has spent two decades perfecting this genetically engineered marvel. By incorporating color genes from the snapdragon flower, the team of scientists created the Purple Tomato , a nightshade rich in health-promoting anthocyanins. These compounds, responsible for the tomato's vibrant hue, are known for their numerous health benefits, including anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties.

Unlike many genetically modified vegetables previously available exclusively to U.S. commercial manufacturers, the Purple Tomato seeds are the first GMO sold directly to home gardeners. Norfolk Plant Sciences aims to shift public perception of GMOs by offering them directly to consumers.

The leading scientist behind this innovative fruit is Cathie Martin, a biochemist trained at the University of Cambridge. Martin's journey to create a transgenic tomato began 20 years ago, utilizing DNA from the purple snapdragon flower, an edible species.

Her goal was to develop a tomato with high levels of anthocyanins, the same compounds that give blueberries, blackberries, eggplants, and purple cabbage their distinctive color and superfood status. Anthocyanins act as antioxidants, neutralizing unstable molecules that can damage healthy cells and are linked with aging and disease. While tomatoes naturally produce these healthy antioxidants, they are typically present in the stems and leaves rather than the fruit. Martin's breakthrough involved placing an "on switch" in the tomato's DNA, enabling the fruit to produce significant levels of anthocyanins, as well as lengthening the shelf life which helps to reduce waste.

Martin adapted the technique developed in 1980s, which employed bacteria to naturally incorporate its DNA into host organisms to insert the gene of the snapdragon flower into the tomato plant. This process can occur naturally, as seen in sweet potatoes, which contain DNA from agrobacterium.

By isolating the gene responsible for the purple color in snapdragons and inserting it into a bacterial vector, Martin enabled the tomato plant to express this new gene. The result is a purple tomato with anthocyanin levels comparable to blueberries or eggplants. Given that Americans consume more tomatoes than these other anthocyanin-rich foods, the Purple Tomato makes these nutritional benefits more accessible.