Tomatoes

Tomatoes are juicy fruits that most people think of as vegetables. They grow on bushy green plants in gardens and on farms. Tomatoes can be red, yellow, orange, or even purple. They come in many sizes, from tiny cherry tomatoes to big beefsteak ones. People use them in salads, sauces, and sandwiches.

From Plant to Plate

Tomato plants start from small seeds and grow into bushy plants. They have yellow flowers that turn into green tomatoes. The fruit slowly turns red as it ripens in the sun. Tomatoes need warm weather and plenty of water to grow well. Many people grow them in their backyard gardens.

Fruit or Vegetable?

Scientists say tomatoes are a fruit because they have seeds inside. But in the kitchen, people use them like vegetables. They are put in savory dishes instead of sweet ones. In 1893, the U.S. Supreme Court even said tomatoes should be called vegetables for trade. So they are really both at the same time.

Fun Facts

• Tomatoes came from South America and were once thought to be poisonous.
• There are more than 10,000 kinds of tomatoes in the world.
• Every year, people in Spain throw tomatoes at each other at a big festival called La Tomatina.

Did You Know?

The heaviest tomato ever grown weighed almost 11 pounds. That is about as heavy as a bowling ball.