HEINZ Tomato Ketchup Marz Edition is a taste of space

While few people will ever have the opportunity to see the Earth from the stars, HEINZ Tomato Ketchup Marz Edition looks to bring a little space farming down to earth. Although this particular ketchup might not be available on store shelves, the food endeavor is more than just producing a great tasting condiment. Sometimes an out of this world sauce brings the flavor beyond the plate.

As the Space Coast seems to blast off rockets on a weekly basis, space travel seems less fiction and more reality. With travel beyond the International Space Station becoming more likely, astronauts will need to grow their own food. Although astronaut ice cream might be a novelty, fresh vegetables will need to be part of the space diet, not to mention a few condiments to add flavor to those dehydrated meals.

The idea of HEINZ Tomato Ketchup Marz Edition sought to recreate growing tomatoes in “Martian-like conditions.” With the help from Aldrin Space Institute at Florida Tech, the team was able to grow a crop of HEINZ tomatoes within those growing parameters.

As Cristina Kenz, Chief Growth Officer for Kraft Heinz International Zone, said “We’re so excited that our team of experts have been able to grow tomatoes in conditions found on another planet and share our creation with the world. From analyzing the soil from Martian conditions two years ago to harvesting now, it’s been a journey that’s proved wherever we end up, HEINZ Tomato Ketchup will still be enjoyed for generations to come.”

Why is HEINZ Tomato Ketchup Marz Edition a huge food discovery?

Although some people might remember Matt Damon’s character growing potatoes in the movie The Martian, that fictional scene is a scenario scientists ponder in real life. Since astronauts cannot pack tons of food onto a rocket, the ability to grow food in other environments is the key to successful space travel.

Over several years, the team at Florida Tech was able to produce and harvest tomatoes meeting the standards for HEINZ Tomato Ketchup. While one scientific experiment is just the beginning, it furthers an important food discussion.

As Dr. Andrew Palmer, Aldrin Space Institute, said, “What this project has done is look at long-term food harvesting. Achieving a crop that is of a quality to become HEINZ Tomato Ketchup was the dream result and we achieved it. And working with the Tomato Masters at HEINZ has allowed us to see what the possibilities are for long term food production beyond Earth.”

Even as many people read a headline and people joke at “space ketchup,” the reality is that this concept is not just a fun promotion that gets people talking. The idea is rooted in science and achieved in ingenuity. HEINZ Tomato Ketchup might be a classic condiment, but it appreciates that it must always look ahead.

The next time that people head to the store and purchase a bottle of HEINZ Tomato Ketchup could spark a conversation beyond the plate. It might not be to infinity and beyond but that flavor will be able to be enjoyed out of this world.