Why are my tomatoes malformed?

There are multiple causes for deformities but the two most common are cat-facing and cracking. All are cosmetic only, the fruits are still edible. No tomato crop will ever be perfect. A certain amount of imperfection and loss is normal, though some years are tougher on tomatoes than others. However, many diseases and cultural reasons for misshapen tomatoes can be prevented. Properly choose, plant and care for your tomatoes; and let last year's challenge inform how you grow this year and this year's challenges inform how you grow next year. Bear in mind, too, that many older varieties prized for their flavor, such as 'Brandywine', are normally not perfectly red and round.