People of Northwest Public Radio Wed February 20, 2013 Smaller
But Better? Organic Tomatoes May Pack More Nutritional Punch
Originally published on Thu February 21, 2013 11:05 am A new
study published in the journal PLOS ONE finds that tomatoes
grown on organic farms were about 40 percent smaller than
conventionally grown tomatoes. The upside? They pack more of a
nutritional punch. The researchers found the organic tomatoes
had significantly higher levels of vitamin C, sugar and
lycopene. Now, while the extra sugar may improve the taste, it's
the lycopene that could amp up organic tomatoes' health profile.
Lycopene — a compound that gives tomatoes their red coloring —
has been linked to a decreased risk of stroke in people who
consume a lot of it. So what explains the increase in healthy
compounds in the organic fruit? Well, researchers say the
organic system of agriculture tends to "stress out" the tomato
plants. For instance, when tomato plants fend off pests without
the use of heavy-duty pesticides, they p