Tomato

One of the tomato’s most important health benefits is its high amount of lycopene. Lycopene is a phytochemical found in red foods and is considered a potentially cancer-fighting antioxidant.

Did You Know?

• Tomatoes contain vitamins A and C, which may help fight infection and keep hair, bones and skin healthy.
• Botanically, the tomato is a fruit — legally, it’s considered a vegetable.
• According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Americans eat between 22 and 24 pounds of tomatoes per person, per year.
• Tomatoes come in every color of the rainbow except for blue! You can find them in red, orange, yellow, green and even purple.
• Eating a Florida tomato is like taking a bite of sunshine. It’s true. According to tomato expert Harry Klee from the University of Florida, the more direct sun a tomato gets, the better and sweeter it will taste. 
• Florida tomatoes are primarily grown in Collier, Dade, Gadsden, Hendry, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee and Palm Beach counties.

Shopping, Preparing and Storing

• An unripe tomato will ripen in a warm, sunny place like a windowsill.
• Store tomatoes at room temperature, out of their packaging and never in the refrigerator.
• Choose tomatoes that are plump and shiny and that give slightly when you apply pressure.

Cooking Tips

• Tomatoes go well with basil, cumin, rosemary, dill, marjoram, tarragon and sage.
• Tomatoes are perfect for every meal. Add diced tomatoes to scrambled eggs. Sliced tomatoes are great on sandwiches or in salads at lunch.

Tomato Nutrition

Serving size: 1 cup 

Calories: 32; Total Fat: 0 g; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Total Carbohydrates: 7 g; Protein: 2 g; Sodium: 9 mg

Download a flyer to print about Florida  tomatoes [ 205.8 kB ] .