Don't Forget
Following their success at the Grower of the Year Awards 2009 in February, with the best consumer marketing campaign, the British Tomato Growers' Association are approaching the fifth British Tomato Week with even more energy and enthusiasm than usual.
Did you know?
Tomatoes are now the most widely grown 'vegetable' in the world and are cultivated as far north as Iceland and as far south as the Falkland Islands.
Tomatoes are low in calories, typically containing only 14 calories per 100g. They contain virtually no fat and no cholesterol.
The English word 'tomato' comes from the Aztec word, tomatl.
Bumblebees are used for pollination and pests are controlled using natural predators. These are introduced to the crop instead of using chemical sprays.
As tomatoes are a sub-tropical fruit and dislike the cold, they should be stored at room temperature. Storing them in the fridge impairs natural ripening and flavour.
To ripen home-grown tomatoes, place them in a paper bag with a ripe tomato and keep at room temperature.
Welcome
The Tomato Growers' Association represents British commercial tomato growers. This includes the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands.
Are you one of those people who think that tomatoes don't taste like they used to? We couldn't agree more. Some taste a whole lot better! Sadly some of them don't and are really best avoided. Is it any coincidence that three quarters of the tomatoes now bought in this country are imported? We, don't think so. We do think that when it comes to choosing the best, buying fresh, home-grown tomatoes is a great place to start. We are proud of the flavour, appearance, freshness and range of tomatoes we grow here.
Not convinced? Why not try some for yourself, learn how we grow them and what else about them is special. If you've fallen out of love with love apples, you might just rekindle the flame! But remember, tomatoes are like people, the best looking ones aren't always the nicest. It's what's on the inside that counts. Actually, we think ours look pretty damn good as well, if that doesn't sound just too immodest!
We want to create a clear identity for high quality, home grown tomatoes and persuade people to look at the label to see where they are grown.
We want to emphasise and reassure consumers that our growing methods are both natural and complimentary to the product and to the environment, as well as advising them of the health benefits of tomatoes in their diets.
We don't want anyone to buy our tomatoes just because they are British, but because they are better.
