Meet tomato genius Brad Gates at Green Acres

Brad Gates changed the way tomatoes look – and taste. Founder of Wild Boar Farms, the world-renowned tomato breeder brought us Berkeley Tie-Dye, Brad’s Atomic Grape, Pineapple Pig and scores of other “new heirlooms” with memorable flavor and names to match.

This weekend, meet Gates in person and learn how to grow tomatoes like an expert at two special presentations at Green Acres Nursery & Supply.

Gates will appear at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at Green Acres’ nursery in Auburn. He’ll repeat his program at 10 a.m. Sunday, March 1, at Green Acres’ Sacramento location. Admission is free with no advance registration required.

Part of Green Acres’ Garden Talk series, “Wild Boar Exotic Tomatoes with Brad Gates” will include his advice for “growing beautiful tomatoes in our hot valley weather,” say the organizers. “Brad will discuss his tips and tricks along with his favorite varieties for 2026.”

Each session also will include a question and answer period for the breeder who made purple tomatoes famous (and tasty).

Now based in Citrus Heights, Wild Boar has introduced some of the most unusual (and delicious) tomatoes available for home gardeners.

“Tomatoes have changed more in the last 10 years than they have in their total existence,” Gates wrote in his Wild Boar introduction.

And Gates was the plant breeder leading that evolution.

“Here at Wild Boar Farms, we are dedicated to delivering you the ultimate tomato experience by offering some of the most outrageous varieties available on the planet,” he wrote. “Countless hours of breeding, a little luck and a lot of hard work are what has allowed us to impact the world of tomatoes for the better. Our goal is to create the most amazing strains the world has ever seen through sheer passion, with each providing the highest level of satisfaction.”

Wild Boar’s tomatoes are “the product of over two decades of living and breathing tomatoes,” he added. “Our focus is on breeding exotic-looking new tomato varieties with extreme flavors while using classical heirloom as a base. Tens of thousands of plants were grown along the way to purposefully improve tomatoes as an entire species, using tedious scrutiny to select every single cross. Each is the product of years of rigorously hard work and aim to capitalize on gifts from Mother Nature herself.”

Why grow his tomatoes? Gates explained, “Wild Boar Farms prioritizes quality in taste, productivity, aesthetics and longevity in concurrence. All have the potential to become someone’s new favorite tomato.”