By: Amelia Attwood, RD, LD

Every summer whether you enjoy cherry, grape, San Marzano, heirloom, or beefsteak tomatoes these delectable foods contribute to the health of the American diet. Americans obtain more vitamins from tomatoes alone than from any other vegetable! Therefore, there are some serious health benefits to having tomatoes year round. 

Tomatoes are an excellent source of antioxidant rich nutrients such as vitamins A & C and lycopene. Antioxidants help strengthen the immune system and therefore keep cold and flu season at bay. Additionally tomatoes are known to be a great source of potassium and insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber helps maintain regular bathroom habits.

The producers of the tomatoes featured at school this month are known as River Root Farm located in Decorah, Iowa. They are a certified organic farm and use sustainable farming practices, such as high tunnels, to grow their amazing produce and flowers. As River Root Farm has said “If you’ve ever followed a rainbow to it’s end, it leads you to the River Root Farm, [y]our favorite tried and true varieties of vegetables, flowers, and herbs will be available as well as new ones! Always local, organic, and soil grown”.

Out of the many tomato varieties, it is known that cherry or grape tomatoes make the perfect snack or topping. San Marzano or heirloom tomatoes make an excellent pasta sauce and are great in salads or on sandwiches. Get ready to taste the difference at home when making this Quick Tomato Sauce in comparison to store bought. This sauce is quick, easy, vibrant and it freezes well for up to 6 months at a time when cooled and covered properly.  (Click HERE to print the sauce recipe)

Additionally, take a bite out of what farm to school snacks are being served up this month. Try this caprese skewer recipe at home. Note that you can dress it up with extra toothpicks to make a caprese “caterpillar” for your younger ones or dress it down for a simple introduction to salads for your teens. If you are needing more simple produce recipes, checkout our Simply Seasonal database of five ingredients or less and five steps or less recipes.