Bob Zeni
Chicago Tomato Man
I’m a certified master gardener who loves gardening and hates those little red water balloons at supermarkets. What started out as a quest for a tasty tomato has evolved into a year-round obsession. Every winter, I review comments from happy (and unhappy) customers to learn their experiences. I pore over seed supplier lists (see the list at bottom of this page), placing orders for favorites and unique, exotic varieties.
Wendy Zeni
Recipe Creator / Canning Guru
My ever-patient wife begins work when the tomatoes mature. She cans tomatoes to use in recipes all year long. In addition, she’s remarkably understanding, allowing me to put seedlings near windows all around the house in early March.
Rebecca Zeni
Greenhouse Assembler / Tech Fixer
My daughter is the master of putting up and taking down the temporary greenhouses that hold the seedlings in late March through April. The manufacturer claims it’s “so easy one-person can do it.” She succeeds despite my clumsy and clueless assistance. Additionally, she repairs the greenhouses by applying vast amounts of clear shipping tape and shows me everything I need know about this website – which she created.
Gus (in memoriam)
Plant Protector / Squirrel Chaser
When he was not raiding the tomato patch to pull off and munch on tomatoes himself, Gus sat in the shade waiting quietly to scare off any approaching squirrels. While his body is gone, his spirit is still with us. We have faith that he’s enjoying all the tomatoes he can eat in the great garden in the sky.
Mike Roach
Marketing Director
Mike is a tomato lover and promotions wizard who has really helped get the word out about Chicago Tomato Man.
Seed Sources
Want to grow your own heirloom tomatoes from seed? I buy from these purveyors. They offer a vast array of exotic, flavorful heirloom tomatoes. Their seeds consistently yield a high percentage of seedlings and the plants themselves are strong and healthy.