Hot summer days, cooler air at night … the climate in the Capay Valley creates the perfect growing conditions for tomatoes, and now that we’re well into late summer, we’re reaping all the rewards. Our produce department is packed full of delicious gems from Full Belly Farms, from gorgeous heirloom tomato varieties, to crisp, juicy cherry tomatoes just waiting to jump into your salad bowl. Take home this great tomato tip we learned from our friends at Full Belly Farms: tomatoes don’t like to get too cold, so don’t stick them in the refrigerator unless they’re getting over-ripe.

Health Notes from Dr. Liz:

Technically a fruit (and botanically a berry), tomatoes supply a wealth of unique phytonutrients with tongue-twisting names like esculeoside, tomatidine and chalconaringenin. Researchers now understand the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory power of these phytonutrients, which helps explain how tomatoes protect against an array of chronic ailments such as heart disease and cancer. And with different tomato varieties such as heirlooms (along with their different colors) come even more unique phytonutrients. Combine this with tomato’s rich vitamin C content (about 40 percent in one cup), and the notable carotenoid lycopene, and this “veggie” has major antioxidant clout.