🌱 Origin & Story
Sunrise Bumble Bee was bred by Dr. Fred Hempel — PhD in Molecular Plant Biology from UC Berkeley — at his Artisan Seeds operation based at Baia Nicchia Farm in Sunol, California. Hempel is one of the most innovative independent tomato breeders in the country, and his Artisan series of tomatoes is built on a simple idea: cherry and grape tomatoes should be as visually stunning as they are delicious.
Sunrise Bumble Bee is part of his Bumble Bee series, which also includes Pink Bumble Bee and Purple Bumble Bee. Each variety features the same basic architecture — small, oval cherry fruits with dramatic streaking — in different color combinations.
Sunrise was first commercially offered in 2014 through Johnny's Selected Seeds. It quickly earned a reputation for exceptional sweetness and eye-catching color.
In 2019, the variety placed in the Diggers Club Tomato Taste Test in Australia — a rigorous competition that pits dozens of varieties against each other in blind tasting. That kind of international recognition says something about what Hempel achieved with this one.
🍴 Flavor & Fruit
Small oval cherry, under 1 oz — orange-yellow base with red and pink streaks that vary from fruit to fruit. Some are boldly striped, some more subtly blushed. The visual effect in a bowl or on a plate is gorgeous — no two look exactly the same.
The flavor is sweet and bright with a fruity quality that's often called one of the sweetest in the Bumble Bee lineup. There's a clean, tropical finish without harsh acidity. The flesh is firm enough to hold up to handling but tender enough to burst when you bite in.
They grow in generous clusters and ripen over a period of days, giving you steady picking rather than a single avalanche.
🍽️ In the Kitchen
Fresh: Pop them whole. The streaking makes every bite a little surprise — some fruits are sweeter, some tangier, depending on their ripeness and color.
Salads: Halved lengthwise to show off the streaked interior. Mix with other cherry varieties for a rainbow effect. Sunrise Bumble Bee is the golden anchor of any cherry tomato medley.
Roasted: Toss whole with olive oil and roast at 400°F until blistered. The sweetness concentrates and the streaks deepen into caramel and rose.
Skewered: Thread onto skewers with basil and mozzarella for a caprese bite. The small oval shape holds perfectly on a pick.
Dehydrated: They dry into chewy, intensely sweet bites — excellent in trail mix or as a snack on their own.
