Tomatoes

Tomatoes are a member of the nightshade family, Solanaceae, along with eggplants, peppers and potatoes. With over 1,000 different varieties, tomatoes are an excellent source of Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Vitamin K. That means they contribute to sharp eyesight, fighting colds, and healing cuts and scrapes. They are also rich in Lycopene, an antioxidant that promotes heart health and keeps our immune system functioning. (This is the pigment that gives tomatoes their red color.) Tomatoes grow only during the warmer months of late summer and early fall in the Rogue Valley.

History

Tomatoes are native to Central and South America. The english word "tomato" stems from the word tomalt, which was what the fruit was called in Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs. The dissemination of tomatoes throughout the globe was sparked by the Spanish’s colonization of the Americas.

Recipes

• Barley Lentil Soup
• Cowboy Salad
• Farmer's Market Salsa
• Garden Sloppy Joes
• Mexican Black Bean Soup
• Pasta with Greens and Beans

Grown By:

Barking Moon Farm
Applegate , OR 97530
USA

Reading List

• "A Fruit is a Suitcase for Seeds" by Jean Richards
• "I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato" by Lauren Child
• "Little Yellow Pear Tomatoes" by Demian Yumei
• "Tomatoes Grow on a Vine' by Mari Schuh