Tomatoes

History History Tomatoes originally grew wild in Peru and were first cultivated in Mexico. Spanish colonists introduced tomatoes to countries wolrd-wide. The French called tomatoes pomme d’amour, or love apples. It was not until the early 1900s that tomatoes became popular in the United States. Source: Kids Cook Farm Fresh Food, California Department of Education Fruit or Vegetable? Botanically speaking, a tomato is the ovary, together with its seeds, of a flowering plant: a fruit or, more precisely, a berry. Tomatoes are not the only culinary vegetable that is a botanical fruit: eggplants, cucumbers, and squashes of all kinds (including zucchini and pumpkins) share the same ambiguity. Tomatoes Farmers Oceanside Produce A true American success story, Harry Singh came to this country from India at the age of 16. With a urning entrepreneurial spirit and a deeply ingrained work ethic, Harry set out to make his mark. During the ’30s, he began a trucking business, hauling crops from California to other Southwestern states where produce was unavailable. More… Durst Organic Growers Jim and Deborah Durst are committed to growing the best tasting and most nutritious produce More... Season, Ripeness and Storage State Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Arizona                         California                         In-Season   Season Tomato season runs from June through November. Ripeness Most tomatoes today are picked before fully ripe. They are bred to continue ripening, but the enzyme that ripens tomatoes stops working when it reaches temperatures below 54°F. Once an unripe tomato drops below that temperature, it will not continue to ripen. Storage Once fully ripe, tomatoes can be stored in the refrigerator but are best eaten at room temperature.