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

  • 4Earth Farms, LLC. Recalls Vegetables (added 03-Dec-2024)
    4Earth Farms, LLC. Recalls Organic and Conventional Vegetable Medleys and Organic Whole Carrots.
  • Sunfed Produce, LLC Recalls Whole Cucumbers (added 03-Dec-2024)
    SunFed Produce, LLC (SunFed) is recalling all sizes of whole fresh American cucumbers packaged in bulk cardboard containers.
  • Applying Geographic Preference in Procurement (added 03-Dec-2024)
    Updates to official policies surrounding Geographic Preference in Title 2 Code of Federal Regulations 200.319 and Title 7 Code of Federal Regulations 210.21(a).
  • New DoD Prime Vendor for Southern California (added 03-Dec-2024)
    Effective December 1, 2024, a new Department of Defense (DoD) Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program prime vendor will begin servicing the California Department of Education (CDE) Food Distribution Program (FDP) participants in Southern California.
  • Applying Geographic Preference in Procurement (added 25-Nov-2024)
    Updates to official policies surrounding Geographic Preference in Title 2 Code of Federal Regulations 200.319 and Title 7 Code of Federal Regulations 210.21(a).