This Week's Event
Tomato Day! We will be celebrating the delicious tomato with a tomato taste-testing using a wide variety of tomatoes donated by our vendors. The taste-testing event will be located at the rear of the exhibit hall.
The Benefits of Tomatoes
With tomato season upon us, what better way to showcase this delicious fruit than with a list of just some of their many benefits!
One serving of ripe, red and raw tomatoes (one serving = one cup or 150 grams) not only contains a good source of vitamins A, C, K, but folate and potassium as well! Tomatoes are low in sodium, saturated fat and cholesterol. One serving of tomatoes has 2 grams of fiber, contributing to 7% of one’s daily-recommended intake of fiber.
One of the greatest benefits of tomatoes comes from it's high lycopene content. Lycopene is an antioxidant that helps get rid of free radicals (dangerous cells) in our bodies. This means that lycopene can ward off cancers like prostate, breast and stomach cancer. Lycopene has also been shown to help in the elimination of age-related macular degeneration.
To reap the benefits of tomatoes it's not only important to eat the whole fruit but to consume them in a variety of ways such as raw and cooked. Cooked tomatoes contain the highest levels of lycopene whereas raw tomatoes contain higher levels of Vitamin C.
Packed full of antioxidants, dietary fiber and vitamins, tomatoes are certainly one food that should be incorporated into every person's diet!
