Celebrate Fresh Tomato Day
- jr81568
- Apr 5
- 4 min read
April 6 is Fresh Tomato Day a day to try a new recipe or have a pot luck that features fresh tomatoes with your family or club. It is a day that can be celebrated all month long in different ways.
A Brief History of the Tomato
Wild tomatoes were first grown in South Ameria and were very small the size of peas. In 700 A.D. they became domesticated by Aztecs who used them in cooking. The Spanish were believed to have brought the tomato to Europe. Tomatoes were grown in France, Italy, and North of Europe as ornamental plants.
Due to its acidity the tomato was not popular with consumers. It was believed to make those that ate them sick and even cause death. In the early days people ate tomatoes on metal plates and some of the lead from the metal went into the food causing lead poisoning.
In the 1800's migration of Italians to American led to tomatoes being grown as crops. During 1889 Esposito of Naples made tomato pizza for the King and Queen of Italy. In 1820 a Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson ate tomatoes to show they were safe to other consumers. He lived in Salem, NJ.
In 1887, Heinz ketchup became a popular condiment made with tomatoes. Tomatoes were used in soups, sauces, salads and main entrees. Italians introduced them and revolutionized their use in traditional dishes. Some popular varieties used are beefsteak tomatoes, Roma, cherry, and heirloom.
Through selective breeding farms developed diverse varieties and larger tomatoes for consumers to try. This lead to tomatoes becoming a popular fruit for recipes around the world.
Ways to Celebrate Fresh Tomato Day
Find a recipe online or in a cookbook and try a new recipe. Go shopping for ingredients and share it with family and friends.
Ask the produce manager about a new type of tomato and what types of recipes it can be used in. They can tell you how to store and use tomatoes.
Grill tomatoes under the broiler or on the grill. Grilled tomatoes can be used to make pizza or bruschetta bread with olive oil and grilled tomatoes and other vegetables.
Host a potluck with family or friends and have each person bring a different recipe using fresh tomatoes. If you belong to a garden club and meet in April try to do this with the club. It can be a refreshing change for the menu.
Go to a local Italian restaurant and order a pizza that uses fresh tomatoes or pasta. Eat there or bring the dish home with you.
Recipes Sites With Fresh Tomato Recipes
47 Fresh Tomato Recipes to Make All Summer Long by Josh Miller Southern Living 2024
25 Best Tomato Recipes Your Family Will Devour by Mehgan Hines Cole, Food Network March 2024
50 Fresh Tomato Recipes Love and Lemons 2024
Fresh Tomato Salad With Spinach with Grated Cheddar Cheese and Lemon Pepper Chicken
You will need a large bowl, knife, cutting board, sheet pan, measuring spoons, grater, large plate, serving spoon, or thongs, oven or large toaster oven.
Ingredients:
3 fresh Roma or Beefsteak tomatoes, or a package of cherry tomatoes washed and chopped into bite size pieces
1 bag fresh spinach diced fine
1/2 red onion chopped fine
2 tablespoon grated cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice or concentrate
1 pound boneless chicken thighs
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon black pepper or more as needed
Instructions:
In a large bowl put warm water and add the tomatoes, spinach, and onion to soak about 5 minutes. Drain in colander and bring to cutting board.
Dice the tomatoes into bite size pieces and put a large plate. Chop the spinach into bite size pieces and remove long stems and discard. Cut the onion in half remove end and discard. Chop into small pieces and mix tomatoes, onion, and spinach well on the plate. With a grater, grate about two tablespoons of grated cheese. Do not add salad dressing until chicken is cooked.
On a sheet pan put foil or parchment paper and put boneless chicken breasts in pan. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Sprinkle lemon juice on both sides of chicken breast and sprinkle with black pepper. Cook chicken breasts about 40 to 45 minutes and take out oven and cut into bite size pieces and add to the plate. You can cook the chicken in large toaster oven too.
Add dressing of olive oil and fresh lemon juice to salad only. Mix well. Serves 4
References:
Origins of Tomatoes The Ancient American Plant and Its Culinary Significance by Shalra Mirza, History Cooperative 2025
National Tomato Day, What National Day List, 202e
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