Is it a fruit or is it a vegetable? That is the most common question asked about the red berry called the tomato.
Tomatoes contain lycopene. Lycopene not only gives the vibrant red color to the tomato, but also helps protect against diseases such as heart disease and cancer. It is also an antioxidant. Tomatoes are a good a source of vitamin A and C2. The seeds of a tomato are also found to be very nutritional, as well.
Botanically, tomatoes are fruits because they are the edible part of the plant that grows them. They also contain the seed of the plant. If they are edible and contain the seed of the plant, they are a fruit. If it is the root or stem of the plant and does not contain the seed, it is a vegetable. Since all tomatoes contain seeds, it is also called a berry.
Tomatoes are native to the Americas. Each region of the world, though, has a different meaning for the fruit. The French call it the Apple of Love. The Germans call it the Apple of Paradise. California is the top producer of the fruit with Florida coming in second.
There are many ways to enjoy a tomato but always remember to store your tomatoes at room temperature before using them. Cold tomatoes will not taste the same.
So when your mother tells you to eat your vegetables and there is a tomato on your plate, tell her that she also means fruit, too.
