Many but not ALL heirlooms do have green shoulders and some of the most popular ones ripen all the way to the stem end, such as Eva Purple Ball, and many others.

Most modern hybrids do ripen up to the stem but that's b/c they have a gene that's been inserted called the uniform ripening gene.

So some of the heirlooms already have that gene naturally and most modern hybrids have had that gene bred in as part of the many parental genes bred into those hybrids.

Carolyn

Some varieties normally have green shoulders. Green shoulders also result from high temperatures and strong sunlight during ripening. Shading the plants some can help with that.

Some nutritional deficiencies can also contribute to green shoulders - specifically magnesium and potassium. And insufficient water or inconsistent soil moisture levels contribute to the hard core issue.

Google that term, 'green shoulder tomatoes' for more details.

Dave

The white pith you have could be sun scald. I had that problem last year when spidermites got the best of my plants.

Sometimes even when there's really no known cure it's good to know exactly what it is. I Googled "green shoulder tomatoes" and learned "The cause of yellow shoulder disorder in tomato fruit has baffled scientists for the last 30 years." Also, "The practice of letting the fruit hang longer in order to 'color up' does not work and has the potential to increase the danger of fruit rot." This I already discovered from trying to ripen them on and off the vine until they rot. Too much heat on the plants in general or too much sun directly on the fruit are believed to be culprits, but it's only a belief and there's been no direct evidence to prove it. Okay, so which varieties are less susceptible to yellow shoulders? That's what I'd really like to know, only to read, "Certain cultivars are less susceptible and others are at higher risk," to which I cheered YES, YES, what are they, only to read on, "...but no research has been done to conclusively identify those cultivars." GLOOM! If I really was determined to delve into it, I could, "intensively leaf test tomatoes from the first flower cluster for Ca, K+ and Mg levels," and then play around with "potassium nitrate, calcium nitrate or calcium chelate," but I'm 74 and I don't think I'd live long enough to see any results. I'm mentally classifying yellow shoulder disorder along with blossom end rot for all practicle purposes as two presently incurable tomato problems we just have to live with.

Well I can tell you a few varieties that are not doing it to me this year, for what that is worth. ;) This despite the fact that many of my varieties ARE having the problem this year.

Not one of my Jet Stars, Abe Lincoln, Steak Sandwich, Amish Paste, or my Arkansas Travelers have it. Only one or two of the Legend, Brandy Boys, and the Beefsteak does. Plant location places a role as does my shade cover from the trees in the afternoon.

Dave

The one I had problems with last year was husky red cherry. But it out grew the problem after ridding it of spidermites and it growing thicker to shade the fruit.