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 Statistics : Produce Facts: Tomato |
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Statistics | Fun Facts |
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There are upwards of 10,000 varieties of tomato in existence. |
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 The smallest species of tomato yet discovered are less than ¾ of an inch in diameter, and come in both red and yellow variations.
When cooked, tomatoes are the leader in Lycopene content, a cancer fighting antioxidant.
28% of Americans consume at least one tomato-containing meal per day.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, tomatoes are the most popular fruit. Americans consume upwards of 23 pounds of tomatoes every year, more than half of which is attributed to ketchup and tomato sauce. |
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U.S. per capita use of tomatoes has increased 30% over the last 20 years (mostly in processed forms such as sauce, paste, and salsa). |
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One third of all catsup consumption originates at fast food restaurants, while 7% originate from school meals. |
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Suburban areas contain the highest population numbers (46%), and also gross the highest quantity of tomato consumption (roughly 48% fresh tomatoes and 46% processed tomatoes). |
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The United States is one of the top five exporting nations for tomatoes, along with the European Union, China, Turkey, and Chile. |
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Canada and Mexico are the two largest export markets for the United States: in 2004, Canada accounted for $134.7 million of a total $270.2 million (almost one half). |
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50% of tomato juice is primarily consumed by persons in the highest income bracket, whereas 43% of catsup is consumed by those in the middle income bracket (roughly 15% of which are teenage boys). |
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Please click on the images below to view larger graphs |
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USA Tomato Consumption, per day
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USA Tomato Consumption,
per % of above the poverty mark |
USA Tomato Consumption, by region |
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USA Tomato consumption, Male |
USA Watermelon Consumption,
by Age (FEMALES) |
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Fun Facts |
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In Italian, the tomato is referred to as “pomodoro,” which translates to “golden apple,” originating from the first tomatoes grown in Europe which were yellow in color. |
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In France, it is believed that tomatoes grew in popularity during the French Revolution, because red was the iconic color of the revolutionaries’ and it was suggested the red foods were a sign of loyalty. |
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Historically, the first tomato plant to have been documented was recorded in 1818 in the monastery gardens outside Athens, Greece by Friar Francis. |
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It is rumored that the British attempted to poison General George Washington during the American Revolution with a tomato-based meal. |
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The largest annual food fight is “La Tomatino” and takes place every August in Bunol, Spain. On average, 120 tons of tomatoes are thrown, resulting in tomato juice rivers measuring 12 inches deep. |
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According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the heaviest tomato weighed 7 pounds and 12 ounces and the largest tomato plant reached 65 feet in length. |
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The answer to the age old question: “are tomatoes a fruit or vegetable?” Botanically speaking, tomatoes are a fruit due to the fleshy material which covers a pocket of seeds. Horticulturally speaking, tomatoes are a vegetable due to their non-woody structure, and annual growth. |
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A horn worm can eat an entire tomato plant by itself in one day! |
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In the United States, more tomatoes are consumed than any other single fruit or vegetable! |
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Though commonly done, tomatoes should never be stored in the refrigerator as it diminishes their nutritional value and flavor. |
Source: http://www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/vegetables/vegpdf/WatermelonFactors.pdf |
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