Program Information

The tomato is native to the Americas, dating back as early as 700 A.D. Most people think of tomatos as vegetables, but it is actually a lovely, red fruit. This is because, generally, a fruit is the edible part of the plant that contains the seeds, while a vegetable is the edible stems, leaves, or roots of the plant.

ABCs of Agriculture informs about Virginia's farming community and how it affects you. ABCs of Agriculture are produced by the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) - an educational program which encourages and enhances agricultural literacy in Grades K-5 and 6-8.

Transcript

Hello, and welcome to the ABC’s of Agriculture! We’re here at this great Farmer’s Market to talk all about fresh Virginia tomatoes!

Did you know that this is actually a fruit? A fruit is the edible part of the plant that contains the seeds, while a vegetable is the edible stems, leaves, and roots of the plant.

Tomatoes are native to the Americas. It was initially cultivated by Aztecs and Incas as early as 700 A.D. Europeans first saw the tomato when the Conquistadors reached Mexico and Central America in the 16th century. Tomato seeds were taken back to Europe where they quickly found favor in the Mediterranean countries of Spain, Portugal and Italy.

The French called it “The Apple of Love,” the Germans “The Apple of Paradise;” but the British, while admiring its brilliant red color, disclaimed the tomato as a food--they believed it was poisonous. This same fear persisted among colonists in the United States until the early 19th century. By 1850, the tomato was an important produce item in every American city.

The majority of the tomato acreage in Virginia is located on the Eastern Shore in Accomack and Northampton counties. Tomatoes are also produced to a smaller degree in the Northern Neck of Virginia where we are today, and within Lancaster, Richmond, Hanover and Westmoreland counties. In 2005, Virginia growers harvested over 56 hundred acres of tomatoes. That harvest produced cash receipts totaling over $88.3 million dollars. Virginia ranks fifth in the nation, accounting for 5.25% of the U.S. tomato production.

Tomatoes are good for you too! They are a great source of vitamin A and are high in Vitamin C. Tomatoes also contain lycopene (LI- CO-PENE) which has been shown in studies to reduce your risk of cancer! Not to mention they make terrific salads and sandwiches!

For the ABC’s of Agriculture, I’m Professor Brad… see you next time!

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