increase font size
Tomatoes are rich in nutrients and low in calories.
It might be time to stop storing your tomatoes in the fridge, says one researcher.
Dr Carolyn Lister is principal scientist and science team leader (food & health information) at Plant & Food Research and a trustee for the 5 + A Day Charitable Trust.
She says that to keep the flavour of tomatoes alive, you need to keep them out of the fridge.
Tomatoes are best stored at room temperature and out of direct sunlight, where they can stay fresh for up to 10 days.
Chilling them in the fridge, especially when they’re not overly ripe, dulls their natural sweetness, alters the texture and reduces the punchy flavour they’re known for.
"This time of year, tomatoes are at their peak - now's the perfect (and most affordable) time to enjoy them fresh, raw, and full of taste," Lister says.
She says that tomatoes aren't just about flavour - they're rich in nutrients.
Low in calories, high in vitamin C, and a source of vitamin B6 and potassium, tomatoes support immunity and heart health.
"What really makes them stand out, though, is lycopene - the phytochemical that gives tomatoes their signature red hue," Lister says.
"Scientific studies have shown that lycopene can act as an antioxidant and lower your risk of cancer, stroke and other cardiovascular disorders," she adds.
"Better still, cooked tomatoes – like in fresh tomato pasta sauces, make lycopene even easier for your body to absorb. So whether you slice them fresh into a salad, roast them with olive oil or cook them into a quick holiday spaghetti bolognese, you’re not just adding flavour, you’re feeding your body a nutrient boost with every bite,” she concludes.
A new international study serves as a stark warning for New Zealanders: our health and wellbeing are in our hands, and increasing our intake of fruit and vegetables is a key step to reducing the pressure on our healthcare system.
More locally grown tomatoes are coming to stores this month and you can thank New Zealand greenhouses for that.
Biosecurity New Zealand has placed import restrictions on tomato seed imports from Australia after the detection of tomato brown rugose fruit virus at two South Australian growing properties.
The cost of producing tomatoes is pushing smaller growers out of the industry.
A new fungicide has recently been approved for use in New Zealand, subject to conditions.
New Zealand and Chile have signed a new arrangement designed to boost agricultural cooperation and drive sector success.
New DairyNZ research will help farmers mitigate the impacts of heat stress on herds in high-risk regions of the country.
Budou are being picked now in Bridge Pā, the most intense and exciting time of the year for the Greencollar team – and the harvest of the finest eating grapes is weeks earlier than expected.
The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) has released its latest rural property report, providing a detailed view of New Zealand’s rural real estate market for the 12 months ending December 2025.
Rural retailer Farmlands has released it's latest round of half-year results, labeling it as evidence that its five-year strategy is delivering on financial performance and better value for members.
OPINION: "We are back to where we were a year ago," according to a leading banking analyst in the UK, referring to US president Donald Trump's latest imposition of a global 10% tariff on all exports into the US.
OPINION: A mate of yours truly reckons rural Manawatu families are the latest to suffer under what he calls the…
OPINION: If old Winston Peters thinks building trade relations with new nations, such as India, isn't a necessary investment in…
