Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Tomatoes

Department of Defense fact sheet containing nutritional information for tomatoes.

Product Description

Good quality tomatoes should have bright, shiny skins and firm flesh. Avoid tomatoes that are soft and mushy, lacking in color, are blemished, or show growth cracks.

Peak Growing Season

Tomatoes are available from March to December. Their peak season is from June to October.

Uses

Excellent for all-purpose use; can be used in salads, salad bars, or as a garnish.

Preparation

Tomatoes are delicate and bruise easily which hastens spoilage; they should be handled with care. Tomatoes should be stored stem-end up. If peeling tomatoes is necessary, submerge in boiling water for 30 seconds, transfer to cold water, and slip off skins.

Storage

Tomatoes should be stored between 55–60 degrees Fahrenheit with a relative humidity of 85–95 percent. For best quality, ripe tomatoes should not be refrigerated.

Best If Used By

Tomatoes can be stored in the refrigerator for five to ten days.

Nutrition Facts

Legend: kcal = kilocalorie; g = gram; mg = milligram; RAE = retinol activity equivalent; IU = international unit

1/2 cup of raw diced tomato provides:

Calories 13 kcal
Protein 0.92 g
Carbohydrate 2.51 g
Fat 0.15 g
Saturated Fat 0.020 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Iron 0.37 mg
Vitamin C 12.6 mg
Vitamin A 56 RAE
Calcium 4 mg
Sodium 33 mg
Dietary Fiber 0.7 g

Source of Information

Questions:   Food Distribution Program | FoodDistribution@cde.ca.gov
Last Reviewed: Friday, October 11, 2024
Related Content
  • DoD Fact Sheets
    Department of Defense (DoD) fresh fruits and vegetables fact sheets.
Recently Posted in Nutrition
  • President Biden Approves Disaster Declaration (added 10-Jan-2025)
    President Biden approves Major Disaster Declaration to aid response efforts for the wildfires burning in the Los Angeles area.
  • Buy American Provision (added 10-Jan-2025)
    The Buy American provision is a procurement standard that SFAs must comply with when purchasing food products served in School Nutrition Programs (SNP). SFAs are required to purchase domestic commodities or products to the maximum extent practicable.
  • NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant: Allowable Costs (added 10-Jan-2025)
    The USDA issued Policy Memo SP 06-2025: National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Equipment Assistance Grants (EAG): Installation Expenditures which provides guidance on costs related to installing and using new equipment purchased with EAG funds.
  • Governor Newsom Proclaims State of Emergency (added 08-Jan-2025)
    Governor Newsom proclaims state of emergency to support the communities impacted by the Palisades Fire.
  • Buy American Provision (added 08-Jan-2025)
    This management bulletin provides school food authorities (SFAs) with updates to the Buy American requirements included in the final rule titled Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-25 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

  • FFAVORS new requirement (added 08-Jan-2025)
    Effective January 5, 2025, (FFAVORS) user are now required to receipt within 2 business days of receipt of product or required delivery date (RDD).
  • CNIPS Update (added 06-Jan-2025)
    Transition of Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS) server hosting and maintenance from California Department of Technology to California Department of Education (CDE).
  • October 22, 2024 Tuesday at 2 Town Hall Resources (added 03-Jan-2025)
    The California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division (NSD) hosted the monthly Tuesday @ 2 School Nutrition Town Hall webinar October 22, 2024.
  • SNP-11-2024 Final Rule: Fluid Milk Substitutions (added 17-Dec-2024)
    This MB updates and replaces USDA-CNP-04-2010, related to Fluid Milk Substitutions in SNPs to align with the Final Rule.
  • Final Rule: Fluid Milk Substitutions (added 13-Dec-2024)
    This management bulletin updates and replaces USDA-CNP-04-2010, related to Fluid Milk Substitutions in School Nutrition Programs to align with the Final Rule.