It's In Season!: Romanita Tomatoes

Season: June - September
Available: Year round

As the summer months begin to warm, fresh plump and luscious tomatoes begin to make their appearance in backyard gardens and grocery stores. Fresh tomatoes are a real treat and discovering new varieties is a passion many share with us. So get ready for some tomatoey goodness as the season begins late June and is most abundant August-September. As the fall chill begins, tomatoes will become more scarce as the southern growing regions kick in.

The great tomato debate! Fruit or Vegetable?

So is the tomato a fruit or vegetable? The answer is surprising. Botanically speaking, a tomato is the edible part of the plant and it contains its seeds: a fruit or more precisely, a berry. However since it isn't as sweet as the fruits we are most familiar with, it is typically served as part of a main course along side other vegetables.

The term "vegetable" has no botanical meaning but it does have political meaning, particularly for early farmers in the US. In 1887, U.S. tariff laws imposed a duty on vegetables but not on fruits which caused the tomato's status to become a matter of legal importance. The U.S. Supreme Court settled the controversy in 1893 in favor of American farmers by declaring that the tomato is a vegetable by using the popular definition which classifies vegetable by use; that tomatoes are generally served with dinner and not dessert.

So there you have it, the tomato is "legally" a vegetable under US law but scientifically it is a fruit. No matter how you slice it, the tomato's here to stay!

Types of Tomatoes

There are literally hundreds of varieties of tomatoes. From the small grape and cherry tomatoes to the massive beefsteak and some heirlooms, the choices are limitless.

Here are a few common tomatoes and their most common uses:

	Grapes The pop'em in your mouth size is perfect for snacking.
	Cherry Great for salads, dips or as a garnish, also in pastas where served whole.
	Romanitas A tasty tomato with a great finish, Romanitas are versatile for snacking, sweet sauces, sliced in half in salads, pastas, oven roasting, kabob's and many others. The possibilities are endless!
	Romas The ultimate sauce tomato! With full flesh and little moisture, the classic roma is the perfect paste tomato. The Roma is used in Italian cooking with good reason. These tomatoes cook and puree to a smooth tomato sauce.
	Heirlooms These colorful tomatoes are a treat when sliced with basil and mozzarella. Heirlooms come in many colors, shapes and sizes and can be used for just about anything. Vine ripened from heritage seeds, these tomatoes are some of the most flavorful of the bunch!
	Slicers (includes Tomatoes on the Vine, Beefsteak and various greenhouse varieties) Sandwiches, burgers, sliced in salads, the slicers are the most common tomatoes on the market. When making a BLT or stuffing a tomato, reach for these!

Did you know?

• Tomatoes were thought to be poisonous by many Europeans till the 1880's
• Except for the potato (thanks to French Fries) we consume more tomatoes per person in the US than any other fruit or vegetable
• Recent medical research indicates that eating tomatoes may significantly reduce the risk of heart disease
• Tomatoes are the most widely canned vegetable in the US

Handling and Care

Store tomatoes in a cool place; avoid sunlight; do not refrigerate.

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