It’s Tomato Time
VERSATILITY and VARIETY are the key words when it comes to tomatoes.
Versatility for the many ways they keep us healthy, and variety for flavor, color, size and very delicious recipes. Take our tomato quiz to learn fun facts and get inspired to eat more if these fall beauties.
It’s early fall and that means that the tomatoes are ripe and ready. Backyard gardens, balcony planters and farmer’s markets are brimming with this beautiful, fragrant fruit. From Early Girls to heirlooms, in Southern California we have over 30 varieties to choose from. Size measures from tiny grape tomatoes to giant beefsteaks. Colors form a rainbow of pink, orange, yellow, green, purple, black, white and even stripes. Sweet to tart flavors delight us from as we use tomatoes in salads, sauces, sandwiches, spreads, soups and more.
How much do you know about tomatoes? Let’s find out with this true or false quiz.
1. Tomatoes originated in Italy, made their way through Europe and came to the Americas by seeds carried by explores and settlers.
False. The first know tomatoes were from the Galapagos Islands on the Western side of South America, and were among the discoveries of the Spanish conquistadors.
2. In Italian tomatoes are known as poma amoris which means “love apple.”
True.
3. Each man, woman and child in American eats an average of 50 pounds of tomatoes and tomato products a year.
False. It’s actually 80 pounds.
4. California leads the world in the production of fresh tomatoes.
False. Florida has the largest fresh tomato industry; California leads the way in processed tomatoes.
5. A medium tomato provides an excellent source of vitamins and A, C and K and the mineral potassium for only 35 calories.
True.
6. Tocopherol is an antioxidant that helps protect us against heart disease and a wide range of cancers.
False. It’s the lycopene that takes such good care of us.
7. Cooking will help you maximize the health benefits of benefits because heat releases the lycopene from the cell walls, making it more available to the body.
True. Pass the marinara.
8. Tomatoes ripen beautifully in the refrigerator.
False. Tomatoes like to take their time at room temperature and out of direct sunlight. It you need to hurry a tomato along, place it in a paper bag with a banana or apple that will emit ethylene gas to hasten ripening.
Sources:
California Tomato Growers Association, http://www.californiatomatoes.org/
Dole Nutrition Institute, http://www.dole.com/NutritionInstituteLanding/Foodfacts