Posted on 23 June 2009 by tomatocasual.com
By Vanessa Richins
I’m addicted to knowledge.
I often watch shows like Jeopardy, so I can rack my brain for all the random facts I have gathered in my years as a voracious bookworm.
I’ve found some tomato quizzes to test out your knowledge of all things to do with Lycopersicon esculentum.
Good luck!
Take the Organic Tomato Quiz!
This is a quick 7 question quiz about growing tomatoes organically. I knew several right off, but had to think about a couple. For example, do you know whether or not smokers need to be extra careful around tomatoes?
Ripe or Wrong: The Tomato Knowledge Quiz
This cute website proclaims that “Veggie Love is in the Air!”. I learned some new facts in this quiz, including the country that produces the most tomatoes and who created salsa first.
Hybrid Seed Production in Tomato
See how much you know Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on 29 May 2009 by tomatocasual.com
By Vanessa Richins
It was a part of a science experiment to study plant growth in space.
While they didn’t last long - they died soon after germination - a new tomato showed that it was especially tolerant to drought.
A steady supply of water is important to tomatoes.
Problems like cracking and blossom-end rot can develop when most tomatoes are finally given water after a drought.
The space plants were contained in special chambers designed by BioServe Space Technologies, a non-profit NASA-sponsored research center at the University of Colorado at Boulder. The chambers contained a solution of nutrients that would feed the plants as long as there was moisture present.
As MSNBC explains, “While the space experiment was Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on 15 May 2009 by tomatocasual.com
By Vanessa Richins
Someday soon I dream of traveling around the world.
I am fascinated by other cultures, especially the foods and languages.
In fact, I have a dream of being able to read and write in 11 different languages. So far I know English, Spanish at an intermediate level, and a bit in a few other languages.
As I was idly thinking tonight, I realized that I only knew how to say tomato in 2 different languages - English and Spanish. How would I ever survive in another country if I didn’t know how to ask for my favorite vegetable?
I hopped on over to Google to use their translator. It features 42 languages. When I typed in “I want to grow a tomato”, I learned that I need to say “Voglio crescere un pomodoro.” when in Italy.
Without further ado, here are their translations for the word “tomato”.
Posted on 29 April 2009 by tomatocasual.com
By Vanessa Richins
Their business began because of a friendly competition.
Alainia Hagerty-Williams, who grew up on a 300 acre farm, was challenged by her father to see who could grow the best tomatoes. T
he first year she chose to grow one variety. The next year, she tried 10 different heirloom varieties.
In her third year, she was the victim of successful germination, ending up with too many tomato plants for her own garden in Munford, Tennessee. She decided to put her excess bounty up for sale on eBay. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on 25 April 2009 by tomatocasual.com
By Vanessa Richins
Are you or your child majoring in horticulture or agribusiness at a college or university in North Carolina?
Apply now for the $1000 scholarship from the North Carolina Tomato Growers Association.
There will be 1 scholarship awarded for a student in either an undergraduate or graduate program.
The scholarship will be based on the best applicant that demonstrates : leadership, scholarly achievement, extracurricular activities, initiative, and financial need.
The conditions of the scholarship, per their website, are:
“The scholarship is contingent on Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on 21 April 2009 by tomatocasual.com
By Michelle Fabio
In support of tomato pickers, the Student/Farmworker Alliance (SFA) has established the “Dine with Dignity” campaign to inform and organize students in the fight against farmworker poverty and human rights abuses by major food service providers.
The SFA is targeting Aramark, Compass, and Sodexo and urging them to join Yum Brands, McDonald’s, Burger King and others who currently work with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in the effort for better wages and working conditions for tomato pickers in southern Florida.
Campus campaigns will Read the rest of this entry »
