The grape tomato is a hybrid of a beefsteak and a roma tomato. This combination created a small, thick-skinned, sweet tomato with low water content. It is about the size of a grape and grows in clusters on a vine, similar to grapes. The first grape tomatoes were grown in Southeast Asia. The grape tomato was introduced to the United States in 1997.
The cherry tomato is larger and round when compared to a grape tomato. Cherry tomatoes are easy to grow and produce a large crop of sweet fruit. There are many varieties of cherry tomatoes that can be found around the world.
Consumers currently seem to prefer grape tomatoes over cherry tomatoes because they are easier to eat, have a sweeter flavor, and are easier to transport because of their thicker skin. In addition, grape tomatoes have a year round growing season, so they are not as expensive as other tomatoes in the off season.
Both cherry and grape tomatoes should have a smooth skin and firm texture. To store tomatoes, do not put them in the refrigerator because they will lose their flavor, rather set them on a counter top or shelf not exposed to direct sunlight.
One cup of cherry tomatoes contains 27 calories, 1 gram of protein, 0 grams of fat, 6 grams of carbohydrate, 2 grams of fiber, 353 milligrams of potassium, 63 RAE vitamin A, and 19 milligrams of vitamin C. Note: regardless of variety, one cup of raw tomatoes has similar nutrient content according to the USDA nutrient database.